Wanaka Sun | 29 October - 04 November 2020 | Edition 998

Scott Tulloch

INSIDE THIS WEEK Views: Page 9 Jobs: Page 10 Sport: Page 12

Illustrator extraordinaire.

PAGE 6

Spare time?

Go fruit picking. thewanakasun.co.nz

THUR 29.10.20 - WED 04.11.20

PAGE 2 EDITION 998

DELIVERED AND FREE

WAO Summit aims to inspire

PHOTO: WAO

WAO Summit organisers from left: Olivia Bonifant, Mandy Bell, Vicki Spearing, Monique Kelly and Penelope Bell. Tuesday marked the start of six days of talks and workshops aimed at inspiring action towards a carbon zero future. Wānaka-based charitable trust WAO (formerly One Wānaka) is hosting the week-long WAO Reset Summit, which brings a range of workshops, tours and speakers to Wānaka. WAO was founded by Monique Kelly and Craig in 2018 and has hosted events in both Wānaka and Queenstown to further its mission to educate, inspire and enable New Zealand communities to accelerate towards a carbon zero, regenerative future and beyond.

Who’s to blame for 40km/hr speed limit?

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

ocial media went to town when 40km/h speed signs replaced the 50km/h signs throughout Wānaka and Albert Town, with many people asking why it had happened and what supported the claim the lower speed limit would improve safety.

The consulting company ZQN7 produced the report that resulted in the lowered 40kmh speed limits over the district. QLDC said that the ZQN7 report, part of a bigger $500,000 body of

S

consulting work looking at various bylaws, made recommendations around lower speed limits that were then looked at by another group of consultants.

Transport authorities have denied that local councils were required to reduce the default urban speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h, despite assertions from some locally elected members to the contrary.

Seeking to clarify the issue, council comms people said that NZTA only made recommendations around speed limits but did not issue requirements.

“Our technical specialists used a mix of approaches to get insight on our local roads including reviewing local data (vehicles counts, crash data, speed infringements to name a few), desktop research on existing plans and legislation, community requests and stakeholder engagement. This data was then fed into the speed management guide model which recommended a safe speed for a road.

“ZQN7 completed the bylaw review which involved making recommendations on whether to revoke, review or renew the bylaw, the structure of the bylaw, drafting the content (factoring in

technical expertise) and overseeing the formal consultation and hearing process. “ Queenstown Lakes District Councillor (QLDC) Quentin Smith that the council’s hands were tied by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) which required the QLDC, as a road controlling authority (RCA), to reduce the default urban speed limit to 40km/h.

The Wānaka Sun asked NZTA to verify this, NZTA national media manager Andy Knackstedt said the agency had not directed RCA’s to reduce urban speed limits to 40km/h limit.

Continued on page 3

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Spare time? Spare room? Different crowd at Lake Dunstan campsites

Central Otago needs everyone it can get for the picking season.

PHOTOS: Stuff

Visitor numbers are expected to be high this summer, but a different crowd than usual.

Pat Deavoll

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

If you have spare time or a spare room, then you are the target audience for a campaign launching last week by the Central Otago Recovery Response (CORR) group.

CORR was formed mid-year and comprised of about 40 leaders of business, social agencies and community groups, who meet on a monthly basis (both virtually and in-person) to raise and discuss emerging issues and put plans in place to minimise and mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 for the Central Otago district.

The ‘Spare Time, Spare Room’ campaign is one of the group’s first activations and is targeting locals, and their friends and family from out of the district, to be a solution to the predicted seasonal labour shortage.

At the peak of demand in December, Central Otago requires approximately 5000 seasonal workers to help in the horticulture and viticulture sectors for the summer season. These workers would normally be sourced through the government-backed RSE scheme, international backpackers and, to a lesser extent, local youth.

Due to COVID-19 New Zealand’s international borders remain closed, and the central government has indicated it is highly unlikely RSE workers will be allowed into the country for this summer.

“Why target locals and their friends and family?” said Covid Recovery Manager Dylan Rushbrook.

“For one, it’s about us looking and supporting local first. We are hoping that locals who may be looking for work, or who may be working reduced hours, part-time, or even our many fit and able retirees, will consider filling that spare time by filling a vacancy on a local orchard or vineyard. Every little bit helps keep our economy moving, and right now, that is critical.

“We also know that the short-term nature of the work means New Zealanders are unlikely

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan says he plans to work in an orchard while the council is closed over summer “because this is really an ‘all hands to the pump’ situation for our community”.

to move permanently and there is a shortage of accommodation, so looking closer to home is key.

“If spare time isn’t something you have, then we’re encouraging our community to think about offering up a spare room to friends or family for the summer who want to come and lend a hand.

Share your little piece of our Central Otago paradise by making up that spare bed. We’re calling on Central Otago locals to invite their friends and family to come and experience a Central Otago summer ‘working holiday’.”

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said he plans to work in an orchard while the council is closed over summer “because this is really an ‘all hands to the pump’ situation for our community”.

“Lockdown showed our resilience, and it is again time for us to come together to stare down a problem that is going to affect us all. If we don’t get the fruit off the trees and vines, we will see a huge amount of money lost to our economy; something none of us can afford in these times.

This could result in job losses across the board, shops and businesses closing and so on.

“So spare a moment and think ‘how can I help?’ Do you have some spare time to work in an orchard, packhouse or winery? Do you have a spare room for a boarder for a few weeks or do you have a relative who could come to Central for summer and help us with our problem?”

Elrick & Co provide a full range of surveying, planning and civil engineering services.

For enquiries, contact Kerry at your local Wanaka office: P: 021 427 744 E: kerry@elrick.co.nz

PAGE 2

Lake Dunstan campsites are expected to be busy this summer as more Kiwis holiday locally due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last season (between October 2019 and April 2020), about 60,000 vehicles passed through Land Information New Zealand’s (LINZ) four popular free-to-use lakefront sites – Lowburn, Bendigo, Jacksons Inlet and Champagne Gully.

This was down about 16,000 on the previous season due to poor weather conditions, the sites temporarily closing due to COVID-19 and tourist numbers dropping.

LINZ Deputy Chief Executive Crown Property Jerome Sheppard said visitor numbers were expected to be high this season, “but a different crowd than usual”.

“Traditionally most visitors at our campsites are overseas tourists, but this summer we expect more Kiwis using our sites, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve been working with the local council to prepare our campsites for people to enjoy this summer. This has included installing free wi-fi at Bendigo and

PHOTO: DOC

Lowburn, and increased facility servicing. We want to encourage New Zealanders to explore their own backyard this summer, support local, and be tidy Kiwis.”

Sheppard said LINZ would continue to take the same approach to education and monitoring as last year to ensure an enjoyable experience for campers and the community.

“We are pleased Central Otago District Council (CODC) has secured funding support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to allow us to work in partnership and continue encouraging responsible camping in the region.”

This season the CODC received almost $200,000 to install vehicle counters, additional temporary toilet facilities and servicing to cope with increased demand, and education and monitoring.

He said ensuring campers were not staying longer than they were allowed at each site would continue to be a focus this season.

“Despite our efforts, this continues to be a challenge. Between November 2019 and April 2020, we turned away almost 700 vehicles from our Lowburn, Bendigo and Champagne Gully campsites for exceeding the maximum night stay.”

Alcohol affects our emergency departments Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Reports released by Southern DHB have found almost 1 in 25 patient attendances to Southern DHB Emergency Departments are alcohol-related.

Data from 24 months of electronic patient records of presentations at the hospital’s emergency departments in Dunedin, Southland and Lakes District Hospitals were examined and these were used to produce separate reports for 2018 and 2019 for each facility.

“Alcohol harm is one of the biggest preventable public health issues facing emergency departments and these reports can help to inform alcohol policy, and how and where we can work with our communities to reduce alcohol-related harm,” says Southern DHB Medical Officer of Health, Susan Jack.

The key findings of the reports were as follows: Almost 1 in 25 patient attendances at Southern DHB Emergency Departments were alcohol-related • Lakes District Hospital had the highest rate of alcohol-related Emergency Department presentations (1 in 20 patients), followed

by Dunedin Hospital (1 in 25 patients) and Southland Hospital (1 in 55 patients) • The busiest times for alcohol-related cases presenting to Southern DHB Emergency Departments in total were Saturday nights and Sunday mornings • Males presented more frequently than females • Dunedin had a higher percentage of 18 – 24-year old’s presenting – 51 per cent of all alcohol-related presentations, compared to

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

PHOTO: Pixabay

Alcohol harm is one of the biggest preventable public health issues facing emergency departments.

36 per cent at Lakes District Hospital and 33 per cent at Southland Hospital (average of 2018 and 2019) • For Dunedin, the warmer months were the busiest for alcohol-related admissions (except for January), while the busy months for Lakes District and Southland ranged across the calendar.

Southern DHB Clinical Director of Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department, Rich Stephenson said the reports clearly highlight the harm from excess alcohol consumption.

“The impact of alcohol on our health service is significant. Dealing with drunk and disorderly patients takes a lot of time and effort - this time could be used to treat patients whose illness or injury hadn’t been contributed to by the decision to consume alcohol to an extent likely to cause harm. Drunk patients can also be violent and pose a significant risk to our staff and other patients.”

The DHB aimed to produce these reports every year. “We hope by informing policy and targeted projects we will begin to see a reduction in alcohol-related harm,’ said Jack.

THE WĀNAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun News

Who’s to blame for 40km/hr speed limit?

Continued from page 1 Land transport rules stated the default urban speed limit in New Zealand was 50km/hr and applied to any road within an urban traffic area.

It also state that councils (as RCAs) were permitted to designate different speed limits for “a road” within an urban area. For example, speed limits near schools had been reduced and limits on arterial roads, such as Aubrey Road (60km/h) and Golf Course Road (70km/h), had been increased above the default.

Smith referred the Wānaka Sun to a 2016 NZTA guide on safety and speed management, which said speed limits must be evidence base and nationally consistent and that for many roads no change to travel speed or speed limits would be needed.

“It is for those corridors where current travel speeds or speed limits may be too low or too high that changes should be made."

The change in the default urban speed limit was signalled last year when the QLDC adopted the Speed Limits Bylaw 2019 after a review of the 2009 version and a public hearing. The review attracted 357 public submissions - the majority of which were against most of the proposed changes, including the wholesale speed reduction to 40km/h.

Submitters said they were against the reduced speed limit because there was no evidence presented which confirmed the 50km/h speed limit in this district’s urban areas was inherently dangerous.

Roading engineer and Wānaka local Mark Gordon made a submission to last year’s hearing saying while speed reductions around schools, for instance, might improve road safety, a widespread improvement in safety for all road users would not be achieved by decreased speed limits alone.

The QLDC comms team provided the following information: “There is a lot of information about the technical assessment in the findings report which formed part of the consultation material for the Speed Limits Bylaw

Speed limits throughout the rest of the district, including Luggate and Cardrona, changed last week.

review. There is also a lot of information provided in the public agenda reports which outline the information our elected members use to make decisions on behalf of the community.”

In response to a Facebook query on the Wānaka Sun page, David Baker responded: “If the ‘speed kills’ mantra were literally true, no-one would ever get on an aeroplane. It’s actually the rapid deceleration therefrom on the impact that kills, and the aviation industry has very successfully mitigated risk by concentrating on this fact rather than slowing all aircraft down at all times.

“Sure, there are places around Wānaka which need a limit of 40kph to reduce the risk of collision, but in some places (e.g. Beacon Point Road, McDougall Street) 40kph is painfully slow and unnecessary. For speed limits to work, we need our team of 10,000 to buy into them and if they’re unreasonable we run the risk of losing many who will decide the rules are stupid and not for them.”

David Irwin commented: “ Its a joke, and a waste of ratepayers money, there is no evidence to back up that making the limit 40kph makes the area safer, human nature dictates we slow down as the road becomes tighter anyway, passing lanes are a perfect example of this. However, if they mandate that cyclists must register their mode of transport so if they break the speed limit or do anything else they should not that they can be held accountable, I am willing to reconsider my stance!”

NZTA did not respond to a Wānaka Sun request for comment.

Speed limits throughout the rest of the district, including Luggate and Cardrona, changed last week.

Are we well-represented on the QLDC? Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is suggesting a review of the ward system which allocates six council seats to Queenstown, three to Wānaka and one to Arrowtown. The review would include public consultation and a hearing next year.

Wānaka’s ratio of population per council seat in 4348, compared with 3833 in QueenstownWakatipu and 3108 in Arrowtown.

The QLDC has also raised the possibility of change to the way the Wānaka Community Board operates At its last meeting, the council decided not to establish a Maori ward, but did decide to establish an advisory group to help in developing options.

This would comprise a political science academic, and a representative from Aukaha and Te Ao Marama and a lawyer.

Representatives from the public were sought from Wakatipu (2), Arrowtown (2) and Wānaka (2). Applications for the positions close on November 6.

The review would include public consultation and a hearing next year.

The entire process must conclude before the 2022 local body elections.

QLDC councillor Quentin Smith said he would welcome an extra Wānaka ward councillor

THE WĀNAKA SUN

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

PHOTO: QAC

Colin Keel, CEO of QAC: QAC reiterated that wide-bodied jets would not be part of the long-term planning for Wānaka Airport.

Airport expansion plans on hold Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has decided not to advance its growth plans for Wānaka and Queenstown Airports for the next two and a half years.

In a new draft statement of intent (SOI), QAC made this public ahead of it being considered last Thursday by QAC's majority owner, the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The statement said the QAC: "would not apply to expand air noise boundaries at Queenstown Airport, nor progress plans to develop Wānaka Airport over the period covered by the SOI - 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023.”

The uncertainty caused by Covid-19 meant Queenstown Airport would not expect to reach existing air noise boundaries for some time.

It reiterated wide-body jets would not be part of long-term planning for Wānaka Airport, but it did not rule out introducing commercial jet services at Wānaka at some later point. This had been opposed by the Wānaka Stakeholders Group (WSG).

An impact statement estimated Queenstown

Wānaka’s ratio of population per council seat in 4348, compared with 3833 in Queenstown-Wakatipu and 3108 in Arrowtown.

“ The allocation of council seats is largely based on population, plus or minus 10 per cent across the wards (3). We currently have a situation ward based in terms of councillors where Arrowtown is moderately (-20 per cent) over-represented as it has had slower growth than much of the district and Wānaka is slightly under-represented (+11 per cent) having experienced relatively high growth rates.

Just adding additional councillors to Wānaka would bring us in line with the electoral commission guidelines of + / - 10 per cent but only just being about +9 per cent. There are other combinations that could further balance the representation fairly that will be explored through next years representation review. There is little doubt that Wānaka could do with an extra voice around the table and the numbers generally support that,” Smith said.

and Wānaka Airports contributed about $526 million to the Lakes district's $3.06 billion GDP last year.

"About $40 million of this was related to airport operations, and a further $486 million to visitor expenditure attributable to the airports," the statement said.

However, the rate of growth slowed last year and had since been significantly impacted by Covid-19.

The statement said the pace of recovery remained uncertain and it assumed international air travel would not resume next year. $46,109,000 in revenue was forecast for 2020, but less than half ($22,428,000) for 2021 with slow recovery after that.

The QAC expected to pay a dividend of $8,295,000 for 2020 but no dividend in 2021 or 2022.

QAC planned to continue with $36m of seismic improvements to its Queenstown Airport terminal over the next three years.

It said the full extent of Covid-19 was not clear yet, its cost base was outside its control and it had significant and ongoing legal costs as a result of a High Court claim brought by the Wānaka Stakeholders Group.

PAINTBALL PAINTBALL CENTRAL CENTRAL CROMWELL

Have your work do at Paintball Central this year BBQ available email: paintballcentral@xtra.co.nz PHONE: (027) 448-5399 TO BOOK

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

PAGE 3

Sun Environment

Wastebusters is celebrating 20 years!

It's been twenty years since a group of Wānaka locals got together to start a community recycling centre called Wastebusters. It's time to celebrate!

Throughout November we’ll be sharing stories from our twenty years, and offering ways for the community to celebrate with us; such as site tours and free beeswax wrap sessions at both sites, a drop-in celebration in Alexandra on 20 November and a day of cake and celebrations in Wānaka on 27 November.

We’ll also be asking the community for their stories, for example, what does Wastebusters mean to you? What was your best Wasties find?

Where do you see us heading in the next 20 years?

Wastebusters is a social enterprise, which delivers reduction, reuse and recycling services funded through its own business operations.

Since we officially started working towards zero waste in 2000, with three staff, Wastebusters has gone from strength to strength thanks to the contributions of hundreds of people, a clear vision and supportive community.

The organisation now employs over 50 full and part-time staff over our two sites in Wānaka and Alexandra. 763 businesses recycle with us.

Last year we sent 2,280 tonnes of material off to be recycled into something new, and around 135,000 customers took home something from our reuse shops.

Communications manager Gina Dempster said “We’ve done a lot of growing, we’ve had a lot of fun, and there are plenty of achievements to celebrate! We’re really looking forward to getting together with everyone who has been part of the journey and celebrating how far we’ve come.”

Some of the highlights of the last twenty years have been: • bringing recycling to Wānaka and running the first kerbside recycling service 2007-11 • joining with Central Otago Wastebusters so we could continue to offer to recycle, reuse and waste reduction services to the Alexandra and Central Otago communities • running the Unpackit Awards to reduce ridiculous packaging • bringing Repair workshops to the district • helping the Queenstown Lakes community know how to use their kerbside recycling bins, and seeing over 3,000 tonnes of kerbside glass recycled since July 2019 • supporting community initiatives such as SUCfree Wānaka, MAD4CO, Thyme

Have your say on the future of freshwater

Festival, Plastic Free Wānaka and One Summit • funding the Enviroschools facilitator for Early Learning Centres in Wānaka • part-funding Enviroschools facilitator for schools in Wānaka and Queenstown • supporting local festivals with real recycling including Tuki and R&A Wastebusters works towards zero waste with groups from all over our district, Aotearoa and the globe, and with people up and down the supply chain (community enterprises, schools, NGO’s, businesses, local and central government).

“As we head into the next twenty years we want to continue helping our community to be resourceful and resilient, a place where everyone can prosper. We’re excited to see what else we can get done together. To zero waste and beyond!” said Dempster.

– By Wastebusters

Schedule of event Site tours Wānaka: Wednesday 4 November, 3.30 pm Saturday 14 November, 10am & 3.30pm Wednesday 18 November, 3.30 pm Wednesday 25 November, 3.30 pm Alexandra: Thursday 5 November, 3.30 pm Thursday 19 November, 3.30 pm Saturday 28 November, 11 am Beeswax wraps sessions Wānaka: TBC Alexandra: Friday 13 November, 3.30 Saturday 14 November, 11 am Casual drop-in celebration Alexandra site, Friday 20th November, 4 pm-6 pm Day of cake Wānaka site, Friday 27 November, (from morning tea until it runs out!)

Formal celebrations Wānaka site, Friday 27 November, 5.30 pm - 7 pm Party party Wānaka site, Friday 27 November, 7 pm onwards (Wasties finery encouraged)

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

The RPS will set the environmental management direction for Otago, and is scheduled for notification in June next year.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) will be visiting every corner of the region over the coming weeks to gather input for its Regional Policy Statement.

There will be a community meeting in Wānaka, 25 November, 12:30-2pm and 6-7:30pm at the Lake Wānaka Centre.

Under a new requirement introduced in the government’s Essential Freshwater package, ORC’s Regional Policy Statement (RPS) must include freshwater objectives developed with iwi and the wider community for each freshwater management unit and rohe (territory or boundaries of iwi.)

The RPS would set the environmental management direction for Otago, and was scheduled for notification in June next year.

Gwyneth Elsum, ORC’s General Manager Strategy, Policy and Science said the aim of the Freshwater Visions consultation was to gather a wider variety of perspectives on water in Otago.

“We’re keen to get input from every corner of the region – the more perspectives we hear, the better.

“In addition to being used for the RPS, the freshwater visions will also shape the new Land

Live a holiday lifestyle all year round retirement village lifestyle facilities. We’ve extended and refurbished our Residents’ Lodge, which includes lounges, bar, dining, library, indoor pool and spa, gym and more.

Villas and apartments start from just $599,000*

Call Ursula on 443 6660 today.

Visit 14 Golf Course Road between 11am and 3pm info@aspiringvillage.co.nz *Villas and apartments sold under occupation right agreement. Ask our sales manager for more information.

and Water Regional Plan we have begun working on,” Elsum said.

“We’ll use these visions to help set areaspecific policies, limits and rules that work for each area in Otago, and which reflect the community as well as central government expectations.”

ORC will be holding community meetings around Otago to gather input into freshwater visions for the region’s catchments, as well as an online survey that opened on November 21 for people who may not be able to attend the meetings in person.

Minister for the Environment David Parker had set ORC a deadline of November this year to notify its new RPS, but has extended the deadline to June 2021, due to the additional consultation requirement introduced in the Essential Freshwater package.

“That’s why we’re talking to people in all of our freshwater management units and rohe about their freshwater visions this year, ahead of schedule for our Land and Water Regional Plan,” Elsum said.

Freshwater management units and rohe are geographic areas for managing freshwater and land use. The boundaries have been set by ORC and enable a tailored approach rather than a onesize-fits-all approach.

2 bed apartment available for just $599,000*

Have you visited yet? Come and view the region’s most extensive

PAGE 4

thewanakasun.co.nz

www.aspiringvillage.co.nz THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Outdoors

thewanakasun.co.nz

Hunters to choose Bird of the Year Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: DOC

Amongst those included are a number of locations on the West Coast, Mount Cook and Coastal Otago, including the White Horse Hill conservation campsite at Mount Cook.

More DOC huts and campsites open for online bookings Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has opened an additional 43 campsites and 8 huts for online bookings in time for New Zealand families to plan their summer holidays.

Amongst those included are a number of locations on the West Coast, Mount Cook and Coastal Otago.

Most DOC accomodation sites are operated on a first-come first-served basis, but some huts and many campsites can be booked in advance online, helping DOC manage popular facilities and encouraging greater use of these facilities by a wide range of people, particularly families.

Tim Bamford, DOC’s Strategy and Insights Manager, believed that allowing visitors to book accommodation with confidence would enable more Kiwis to take advantage of DOC’s

conservation accommodation facilities, and provide a fairer system for all.

“Another advantage of the booking service is, in advance of their trip we can provide customers with safety information, track updates and if the reservation is affected by bad weather, other natural events or any cancellations due to potential COVID-19 alert level changes,” he said.

“Our bookings and track counter data shows New Zealanders’ desire to get out into our great outdoors has been, and continues to be, strong, with significant peaks over weekends and holidays in many places.

“Despite border restrictions, we’re seeing many DOC facilities remain busy this year and bookings are currently up 9 per cent for our Great Walks, compared with the same time last year, even with reduced seasons on the popular Milford and Routeburn tracks,” he added.

HIKING COLUMN

Looping around Lake Hayes Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Summer is almost upon us, and in an effort to fill the snowboard-shaped hole in my life with a more healthy pastime than Netflix and chips, I’ve set myself a new challenge - to do a different local hike each weekend.

I’m a little embarrassed that I’ve lived in Wānaka for a year and a half but accomplished so few of the beautiful walks on our doorstep.

There’s only so many times one can go up and down Mount Iron and still include ‘hiking’ in a list of one’s hobbies.

I started off my new challenge with the DOC graded ‘easy’ 8km loop around Lake Hayes, near Arrowtown. A spur of the moment decision, based on the fact that the oppressive, humid Sunday cloud looked slightly less dark in that direction, but one that was surprisingly rewarding.

For a loop track around the lake, there was a lot more going on than I expected.

We came across some interesting (read: huge and ugly) looking houses built into the hillside, a boardwalk wetland where a group of ducks were holding some kind of springtime fight club, and, as a thrilling

THE WĀNAKA SUN

The Game Animal Council (GAC), the NZ Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) and Hunters for Conservation are providing hunters with the opportunity to choose either the kārearea/NZ falcon or the whio/ Blue Duck as their ‘champion’ bird to back in the upcoming Bird of the Year competition.

“In 2019, hunters got behind the kārearea/NZ falcon to give it a very creditable ninth place, so we think it is appropriate to give it a chance to defend its position as the hunters’ champion,” said GAC General Manager Tim Gale. “It will face stiff competition to retain its spot, however, with the whio also very popular amongst hunters.”

“The whio got sixth in last year’s competition and is a champion of the backcountry, living in mountain rivers and streams. It is also recognised on our $10 note.”

Both the Central North Island Sika Foundation and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation voluntarily manage extensive trapping programmes to reduce predator numbers helping to protect vulnerable whio populations.

“Going up against New Zealand’s original hunter, the kārearea, is a daunting prospect, though. This little falcon can easily fly at over 100km/h and can take down prey much bigger than itself.”

“Hunters get involved in conservation work all over New Zealand, although most of the time it

goes unrecognised,” said NZDA Chief Executive Gwyn Thurlow. “As well as predator trapping projects and kea surveying, hunters PHOTO: DOC work to restore our backcountry The kārearea/NZ falcon is one of two birds heritage through hut in contention for the preservation and track hunter’s champion bird of the year. cutting.”

Hunters for Conservation spokesperson Jason Van Beers had noticed a heightened interest from hunters to promote their projects and do more in the conservation space.

“Inspiring the hunting community to get involved in boots on the ground conservation projects that make a real difference is critical to the preservation of our threatened species and is what Hunters for Conservation is about. The Bird of the Year competition is a great way to help further raise awareness and educate hunters, which is why we are so supportive of it.”

Hunters can vote for either the kārearea or whio at the Game Animal Council Facebook page.

Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year runs from November 2- 15, and the Game Animal Council, Hunters for Conservation and NZDA will announce the hunters’ champion bird the day the competition begins.

NEWS IN BRIEF Relay for Life returns to Wānaka Fundraising event Relay for Life is set to return to Wānaka next year. The event is focused on raising awareness around cancer, supporting those who are struggling with the disease, remembering those who have passed, and supporting the work of the Cancer Society.

Relay for Life Wānaka is scheduled for the weekend of the March.27-28.

Albert Town Christmas in the park McMurdo Park will once again be the venue for the annual Albert Town Christmas Party in the Park event this year on Saturday 29 November 11am-3pm. This will be featuring a bouncy castle, train rides, a lolly scramble, kids’ games, food and drink stalls, raffles, entertainment, and a visit from Santa. It will be a family friendly event for an enjoyable day out in Albert Town.

Open Day at Riverside Pool The Riverside Pool at Albert Town is hosting an open day on Saturday 7 November, for the general public to go and see the facilities which are designed to be a family friendly community

socialisation space. It was taken over by a volunteer run committee earlier this year and is run by a not-for-profit organisation. The facilities at the pool will be open from 11am4pm. There will also be an open yoga class and community barbeque.

QLDC Meeting The Queenstown Lakes District Council are holding an ordinary meeting today – Thursday 29 October, at the Council Chambers on 10 Gorge Road in Queenstown. The meeting will begin at 2:00pm.

Rock stabilisation at Nevis Bluff The Waka Kotahi Aspiring Highways team have started conducting rock stabilisation and inspections at Nevis Bluff on SH6 next Tuesday. The team of abseilers are working throughout the day to remove loose rock from the Nevis Bluff rock face, meaning that road users can expect 10 minute delays between 8am and 5pm. Further rock face maintenance may be required in early November which would mean more extensive delays. Notification will be given if this is the case.

PHOTO: Supplied

I started off my new challenge with the 8km loop around Lake Hayes, near Arrowtown.

finale, a thick, continuous cloud of baby mosquitoes to run through.

It’s spine-tingling stuff for a track so close to civilization and the highway - especially because, if you do it anti-clockwise as we did, you’ll be about 2km from returning to your car when you come across a sign informing you that the next section of the track can flood to above foot height. I’m not sure what DOC expects you to do at this point - go for a paddle or take the long way home, I guess - but on this particular day we were able to journey on.

All in all, it’s a great walk for a day when you’re wanting to get out and see the mountains, but don’t fancy any heart rate raising hills. And if you walk fast enough, you still feel you’ve earned the right to a beer and a bowl of chips in Arrowtown on the way home.

Here when you need us the most

Penny Fisher RN MBA

027 343 4776

Penny’s Home Care Professional Trustworthy Friendly Reliable Household help, Meal preparation, Outings companionship, Shopping carer support. www. pennyshom ecare.co.nz

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

Opening hours: Monday—Friday 8:30am—6:00pm 03 443 0725 • aspiringmedical.co.nz • 23 Cardrona Valley Rd

PAGE 5

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Local farms open up

Criffel Station: learn about soil health with leading experts in farm and environmental systems.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Five local farms will open their doors next week during the ‘WAO Reset Summit 2020 – Food & Fibre Field Visits’ event organised by WAI Wānaka. Environmental experts will join farmers in this ‘behind the farm gate’ tour showcasing how farmers are able to regenerate the environment and produce nutritional, healthy food for the world.

From riparian planting, water monitoring, soil health, to carbon sequestration, these visits cover the multiscapes that make up our rural landscape.

This self-drive tour is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about on-farm environmental activities and hearing from experts, such as Dr Jim Salinger, a leading international climate scientist on climate change for over 40 years.

Mandy Bell, owner of Criffel Station and chair of WAI Wānaka, organiser of the event, said: “This is a great opportunity both for farmers and non-farmers to understand what is happening on these properties that are so visibly prominent in

PHOTO: Criffel Station

our area, meet the farmers, and to ask questions of the experts. I’d encourage locals to get a carload together for a wonderful day out in our backyard.”

Five properties – Hillend Station, Alpha Burn Station, Criffel Station, Mt Grand Station and Lake Hawea Station – will host this event. Both full day and half day options available.

At each property, meet the station owners and experts who will focus on the following topics:  Criffel Station – learn about soil health with leading experts in farm and environmental systems, Alan McDermott and Simon Stokes.  Hillend Station – see the integration of rural and urban living systems with Nicola McGrouther.  Alpha Burn Station – meet members of the Wānaka Catchment Group to learn about water quality research and implementation on farm.  Mt Grand Station – learn about future productive landscapes with Lincoln University Centre of Excellence head Prof.

Pablo Gregorini.  Lake Hawea Station – meet Dr Jim Salinger, international expert on climate science and learn about greenhouse gas emissions.

The Heiler family from left: Dan, Mike, Nick, Tim, and Turid.

PHOTO: Supplied

‘Giving family more time together’ Ollie Blyth

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Husband and 48 year old father of three Mike Heiler has undergone several surgeries and chemo and radiation therapy for two years battling stage four bowel cancer.

Diagnosed in August 2018, Mike’s battle with cancer has been significant, with tumours spreading across his body. The Heiler family then moved from their home in Wānaka to Christchurch. In order to slow the cancer down, Mike is now fundraising on givealittle to pay for two immunotherapy drugs – regorafenib and nivolumab – which are not funded under the public health system.

At the time of writing, the Heilers have received over $50,000 out of their $80,000 goal and that figure is growing.

Regorafenib costs around $595.00 per week, and Southern Cross Insurance can only cover a certain amount of the payment. Nivolumab costs $6,470.00 per week, but it is not covered by

Southern Cross. The cost to work with doctors to figure out if the drug combination is slowing the cancer is around $80,000, hence the fundraiser.

After receiving initial donations on the givealittle page (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/ get-mike-the-unfunded-treatment-he-needs), the couple posted to their donors, “It means so much to us that, not only will we now be able to trial the drug combination, but also to receive the messages of love and support from you wonderful lot - friends and friends we haven't met yet. So thank you again for giving our family the chance of more time together.”

Mike’s wife Turid expressed how thankful she is for the support from her whānau and the wider Upper Clutha community, “Wānaka remains our home, our touch-stone to return to, our place to breathe and regroup through all the challenges cancer throws at us. We are so very grateful for the love, the financial support, the messages, the dinners and the overwhelming sense of having a large Wānaka team behind us every step we take.”

The life of an illustrator Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka local Scott Tulloch has illustrated yet another children’s book. ‘Boo goes Tutti Frutti’, written and self-published by Rachel Weston, was released last month and follows Boo as he challenges his taste buds to a wide variety of fruits, inspired by Weston’s own dog who would steal an avocado from her neighbour’s tree each evening.

With a repertoire of 40 titles, Tulloch has illustrated his own books as well as those for wellknown authors such as Craig Smith and Sally Sutton. But, interestingly, he has met the authors or publishers themselves less than ten times in his whole career.

“It’s all done by email,” he said - with the editor often “running interference” between author and illustrator. Authors often have a real picture in their mind of what they want the book to look like - and have to step down to give the illustrator their freedom.

“Most of the time, they’re delighted with what you do. Other times, they have strong ideas of their own. You normally find a way to compromise,” said Tulloch.

Tulloch started teaching himself to be an artist in Australia in the 90s, selling his artwork at local markets. It took him three years before he could make his passion a full-time living, and a further ten before he realised his dream of publishing a self-illustrated children’s book by sending his stories around to every publisher in New Zealand until one was accepted. Since then, he has had books published every year.

Tulloch enjoys telling a story with a backbone,

PAGE 6

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

PHOTO: Supplied

Local Scott Tulloch has illustrated 40 books both his own and for other authors, like this one for Rachel Weston.

which can be difficult to do in just 200 to 1,000 words - especially in a way that has “universal appeal” to children and their parents. He recalled his book ‘Too Much Poo’ - for him, a commentary on materialism and consumerism in modern society; for others, “unnecessarily rude” toilet humour.

“As an illustrator, you earn bugger all… but I have everything I need,” said Tulloch, who is currently working on publishing two new stories.

He has been in Wānaka since 2017 - the best place he’s ever lived. “You couldn’t crowbar me out,” he said.

THE WĀNAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun News

THE WCB WORD

A regular update from Wānaka Community Board Chair, Barry Bruce

For many of us, October is the transition month from winter to summer activities.

Amazingly the Sunday before last was the final day to enjoy snow skiing but for others, it was the lake that appealed. It was great to see lots of boats out and a number of people water skiing. There is also lots of happening in our communities. “Supporting our future” is this month’s theme as we look to how we can continue to care for our people, our environment and shape our democratic process locally.

Getting through together I’d encourage people to keep an eye out for the national mental health and wellbeing campaign called Getting Through Together by the team at All Right? – Community and Public Health, which is a division of the Canterbury District Health Board and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. It’s all about helping New Zealanders face the challenges caused by COVID-19 together.

You’ll find the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Scuttlebutt newsletter has some top tips from the Getting Through Together team on how to look after your mental health and how to access further help.

The WCB recently spoke with Community Networks Wānaka and LINK Upper Clutha, who do a fantastic job providing a raft of support and advisory services, along with many local social service agencies, health providers, community groups and schools.

If you’d like to access counselling services locally, give the Community Networks team a call on (03) 443 7799 or email info@communitynetworks.co.nz Recycling changes for the district I know folks in the Upper Clutha are passionate about waste minimization and recycling, so it’s important to be aware that from 1 December, only plastics 1,2 and 5 will be accepted from recycling in your yellow curbside bin. These are plastics that can easily be recycled and turned into other useful products here in New Zealand. The changes are being made to align with New Zealand’s commitment to move away from hard-torecycle plastics and to help better manage the international trade in plastic waste. Now’s a good time to think about how to get ready for the change. Try switching out plastic types in your shopping trolley to easy-torecycle products like glass and cans. For more info check out the latest QLDC Scuttlebutt newsletter and head to www.qldc.govt.nz/ recycling-changes Join the Representation Review Advisory Group Council is looking for locals interested in playing an active part in helping to shape the future make-up of the QLDC. Things like, how many Councillors are elected, do they stand in wards and if so, where are the boundaries?

These are the sorts of issues that will be

THE WĀNAKA SUN

decided as part of the representation review which will in turn, decide how we vote for the QLDC in 2022. QLDC as it currently stands was formed in 1989 and the way Councillors and Community Board members are elected hasn’t changed much since then. It’s time for a blue-sky review and you can play your part in exploring these ideas by applying to be part of the Representation Review Advisory Group exploring the different options. Members will work with staff and other professional advisors to crunch the numbers and examine the different ways in which the district can be divided. If you’re keen to volunteer, no special experience is needed, although ideally, you’ll have at least some interest in or knowledge of local democracy. It’s anticipated that you will only need to attend a small number of meetings. The aim is to present a summary of the options to the Council in March 2021 from which a full community consultation process will be undertaken. If you’re interested email ceo@qldc.govt.nz by Friday 6 November.

Wānaka Community Board news WCB activity over the month has included our regular “Pop In” session, which saw a variety of issues raised including discussions around planted trees on road reserves and QLDC being commended for the new toilet at the Lake Hāwea boat ramp.

Our recent WCB workshop meeting covered a mix of items including: • An update from Alpine Community Development Trust, which operates Community Networks Wānaka and LINK Upper Clutha, outlining the many ways they provide social service and community development support. Many thanks to Trustees and staff who took the time to come along and provide an entertaining and informative session.

• Updates on planning being undertaken for proposed Cardrona and Lake Hāwea water and sewerage improvements plus proposals for excess stormwater discharge from Bullock Creek Headwaters.

• Long-term proposals for water reservoir expansion was outlined along with improvements to water pressure and stormwater disposal on the western side of town.

• A review of the results of the public engagement relating to the Lakefront development stage two. I’d like to note that a good number of respondents both online and from the drop-in sessions indicated a clear majority preference for plenty of car parks, an upgraded Millennium pathway and to retain the natural openness with plantings sympathetic to the area.

WCB members also attended the Hāwea Community Association AGM, which provided a valuable opportunity to understand and discuss issues important to the community.

Wānaka Arts Labour Day exhibition a success

Max Taylor Hall, overall award winner for his painting "Sebastian”

Ollie Blyth

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Wānaka Arts Labour Day exhibition saw a variety of different artists and enthusiasts coming together from across the community to share their art and learn from others.

Eighty-two artists submitted some 270 pieces in different categories, said Wānaka Arts president Vicky Fulton, "It just keeps getting bigger and bigger as more people move into the community and therefore more artists, and more young artists are coming on." Portrait painter Stephen Martyn Welch was a featured artist at the event, and demonstrated his process in front of a live audience, painting local farmer Ray Anderson for around five hours.

PHOTO: Wānaka Art Society

Welch said that portraiture was not valued as much as it should be in Aotearoa New Zealand, saying, “A lot of people don’t understand it because New Zealand does not have a history of portrait painting, yet the most famous painting in the world is actually a portrait [the Mona Lisa]...

“If you see an amazing portrait, the first thing you do is ask yourself two questions: ‘Who is that person and what are they thinking’; you can’t do that with a landscape. When you see a really wellpainted portrait, it will stop you in your tracks."

The Labour Day exhibition was one of two major art events held by Wānaka Arts, the other being held at Easter. The exhibition organisers are a group of art lovers who are seeking to make Wānaka a destination for the arts and looking for opportunities to help exhibit and sell the works of local artists.

Trusted Healthcare for Life

Wanaka Medical has stood at the heart of our community for 40 years, looking after generations of families with leading treatments and evidence-based care.

We understand that every body, and every life, is different.

Wanaka Medical, Trusted Healthcare for Life. e: office@wanakamedical.co.nz

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

t: (03) 443 0710

a: 23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka

www.WanakaMedical.co.nz

PAGE 7

Sun Sport

thewanakasun.co.nz

Aussie from Owaka this year’s Perfect Woman Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

The annual Perfect Woman Competition was held at Luggate at the weekend and Australian Krystal Illingworth of Owaka took the win, receiving her title from last year’s winner Charlotte Spencer-Bower.

Fourteen women aged between 20 and 60 years old entered the annual Labour weekend event based at the Luggate Hotel.

Committee member Kirstin Dana said 21-year-old shedhand Illingworth, formerly from Australia's Northern Territory, raised eyebrows in the 'open a big beer bottle without an opener' challenge, when she used some old-school hand sheep shears.

Second place went to Genevieve Devereux, a vet technician from Wānaka, and third place to Sacha Tito, a welder from Whangarei who first entered the competition with her mother two years ago when they drove past the Luggate Hotel on their holiday.

This year, entrants were required to mend a broken heart (weld together a heart that had been cut in two), along with the usual challenges: digger driving, jet boating, clay bird shooting, stock whip cracking, chainsawing, tyre changing, archery and folding a fitted sheet. The wind on Sunday prevented the helicopter event taking place for the second year in a row.

Dana thanked local businesses who “despite having a tough year,” still donated items to be auctioned off or sponsored the event.

The majority of funds raised will go to Wānaka LandSAR, and the remainder to a local individual or family experiencing a difficult time.

PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Swim Club members Benjamin Silipo and Kate Bennie brought a number of medals home with them from the New Zealand Short Course Championships (NZSC) earlier this month.

National success for Wānaka swimmers Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Supplied

2019 Perfect Woman Winner Charlotte SpencerBower of Wānaka (left) and 2020 Perfect Woman Winner Kyrstal Illingworth of Owaka

Wānaka LandSAR chair Aaron Nicolson said: "Wānaka SAR are very pleased to be acknowledged and selected as a beneficiary from this year's Perfect Woman competition. Any monies donated to Wānaka SAR will be used to support our dedicated team of volunteers in terms of training and or equipment used to help those lost, missing or injured in our backcountry."

There's still time to nominate a deserving individual, as well as a local charity for 2021’s event, on the Perfect Woman Competition web page.

Wānaka Swim Club members Benjamin Silipo and Kate Bennie brought a number of medals home with them from the New Zealand Short Course Championships (NZSC) earlier this month.

Held in Hamilton from October 6 - 10, the five day competition saw the best swimmers in New Zealand compete in heats and finals to determine the top swimmers in the country.

15-year-old rising star Silipo had another outstanding meet, finishing with eight medals for each of the eight events he entered, including four gold medals in the 400m individual medley and all distance freestyle events (400m, 800m and 1500m), silver in the 200m butterfly and three bronzes in 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle.

Coach Cameron Stanley said that Silipo, who has been training with the swim club since age

8, had “put in a massive amount of work over the past few months and years and thoroughly deserves these results.”

Silipo, whose long-term goal is to compete in the Olympics, said he was “very pleased” with his success.

Fellow club member Bennie, who had a late start to competitive swimming aged 11 when she moved to Wānaka and joined the swim club, won her first ever national medal when she finished second in the 14-year-old girls 50m freestyle. She also had top 10 finishes in the 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

Stanley said she thoroughly deserved her results, which were “testament to the hard work that Kate has put in over the past few months.”

Bennie recalled that coming second was both amazing and a shock - “I was so in the zone I had no idea where I was,” she said.

The pair are now focusing on training for the highly competitive National Age Group Swimming Championships next April.

When life gets tough...

SPEAK UP THERE IS A WAY THROUGH In crisis phone 111 or contact the Mental Health Emergency team 0800 467 846 Wanaka Medical Centre 03 443 0710 Aspiring Medical Centre 03 443 0725 Central Lakes Mental Health Services, including Alcohol and Drug Service 03 440 4308 Central Lakes Family Services 03 441 4331 Mental Health Support Line 24/7 free call/txt 1737 Tautoko Suicide crisis support line 0508 828 865 Depression Support Line 0800 111 757 Lifeline 0800 543 354 Youthline 0800 37 66 33 Healthline 0800 611 116 Alcohol & Drug Helpline 0800 787 797

Understanding Depression Instant Sun Protection Without the Traditional Sunscreen Feel.

Recommended by Dermatologists Worldwide.

For young people: www.thelowdown.co.nz For adults: www.depression.org.nz A list of local counsellors, including subsidised counselling options, can be found on our website www.communitynetworks.co.nz or call (03) 443 7799.

Community Hub, 34 McDougall Street, Wanaka

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

443 7799

www.communitynetworks.co.nz

Your local resource hub for social wellbeing services.

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Views

thewanakasun.co.nz

EDITORIAL

Put the petty stuff aside

PHOTO: Enchanting

We can ski, mountain bike, tramp, run, kayak, paraglide, rock climb, play golf…all within minutes of town.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Coming from Christchurch, I am used to lots of traffic (congested due to the ongoing issues with the earthquake). Also, homeless people sleeping in doorways in the CBD, others sleeping in their cars, large immigrant families living 10 to a two-bedroom council flat, and a lot of unemployment. Queues in the WINZ office. Lines for state housing. Lines for food parcels. Not enough of anything to go round.

So it surprises me to come to Wānaka where there are no homeless, no council flats and minimal traffic, and to find that people have nothing better to worry about than a new bi-law that restricts drivers to 40 km/h in the middle of town.

The issue was worth 40 plus comments on the Wānaka Sun Facebook page when I put up a query to get some feedback.

Come on people? Have you nothing better to worry about? Here we are in beautiful secluded Wānaka, surrounded by mountains and architecturally designed houses, not a Covid case insight. No one is homeless, and there is nothing better to worry about than the speed limit through town?

You could be in the States. I've just done a Google search, and it tells me that there are 8,962,783 cases of Covid and

231,045 deaths there as of today (yesterday).

The unemployment rate is 14.70 per cent compared with ours at 4.2 per cent.

This is beyond comprehension despite what that Trump person says.

Italy has had 542,789 Covid cases and 37,479 deaths. The UK has had 895,000 cases and 44,998 deaths. I have a friend in the UK who suffered a life-changing stroke, has been in the hospital for weeks, and whose wife cannot visit him because of Covid restrictions. And it looks like she won't be able to for quite a while yet.

I think its time to put aside the pettiness of speed restrictions, whether we will have enough room in our bins for our rubbish, or too few representatives on the QLDC. And to consider how lightly we have got off the Covid thing.

And to acknowledge we live in one of the most envious places on the planet. There is no shortage of jobs (if you don't mind resorting to hospitality or fruit picking), our housing is enviable (how many ramshackle houses do we see in Wānaka) and we are well represented by our local body - it has our back.

We can ski, mountain bike, tramp, run, kayak, paraglide, rock climb, play golf… all within minutes of town. We wake up to a fabulous view every day. The weather is generally acceptable. Forget the speed limitafter all, it's probably a good thing.

Crimeline S Sean Hurley

Senior Constable, NZPD

As I sit here on Labour Day morning, the weather has taken a turn for the worse so at least I will not have to worry about watering the garden today.

As our visitors return home, adjust driving to the weather conditions will ensure your safety.

Monday of last week saw a local male arrested for failing to appear at court. He will have the opportunity to explain his tardiness to the judiciary.

Wednesday saw an international visitor to NZ suspended from driving on her international driving licence as she had been in NZ for more than a year. A reminder to all other drivers in NZ longer than planned due to Covid 19 that you can only drive on your international licence for one year. A quick check with New Zealand Transport Agency web site will advise you of the requirements.

Several locals were also suspended from driving for excess demerit points.

Thursday saw Police receive a report of a burglary from a Waimana Place address.

Access was via an insecure door which is a timely reminder for us all to ensure our premises are secured.

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Police also dealt with a person stealing from New World and recovered the three bottles of wine, venison mince, butter and mushrooms he had taken. He will have to come up with alternative dining plans. There is excellent video footage available in many of the shops in our town, so please desist if you were ever contemplating theft.

Police also dealt with several family harm incidents, two of which resulted in parties being charged with assault. Inquiries are ongoing for both.

These are stressful times that we are living through and many of our family harm incidents have excess alcohol abuse as major contributing factors. Counselling services are available for this through your General Practitioner or through alcoholics anonymous who regularly advertise meetings in the Messenger.

Please contact community networks if you are seeking relationship counselling, and they will be able to refer you to an appropriate provider.

Seek help before problems escalate and if you need to communicate, try to do so when both parties are sober.

Keep safe this week, be careful not to drink and drive, treat each other with the kindness you would like to be shown yourself.

Sponsored by

In response to the new speed limits in the Upper Clutha, we had these posts on our Facebook page.

Emberley: I'm stoked on the new speed limits and I'm sure every child, young adult and/or professional in town who uses alternative transport to get to school, work or around town feels the same way. It does feel safer and I hope it encourages more people to use active transport.

David: If the ‘speed kills’ mantra were literally true, no-one would ever get on an aeroplane. It’s actually the rapid deceleration therefrom on impact that kills, and the aviation industry has very successfully mitigated risk by concentrating on this fact rather than slowing all aircraft down at all times. Sure, there are places around Wānaka which need a limit of 40kph to reduce the risk of collision, but in some places (e.g. Beacon Point Road, McDougall Street) 40kph is painfully slow and unnecessary. For speed limits to work, we need our team of 10,000 to buy into them and if they’re unreasonable we run the risk of losing many who will decide the rules are stupid and not for them.

Compliance will get worse. Some refinement needed, QLDC! Sonia: Right in town in makes sense...Helwick St from Kai to the Irish bar...and lower Ardmore, from Caltex to Lake Bar ...maybe in summer as far as MacDougal St. Everywhere else is mad...no one has been run over, it’s too slow.

Matt: Mmmh, going from 100-40kms in Hawea is a bit wack. I think the 40km/h should start in the subdivisions, but hey, what ever.

Karl: Agree in the middle of town, but disagree with it around main routes. Most drivers are fairly sensible and slow down when there are lots of pedestrians, kids, cyclists etc - but you can't legislate against those who will always be feck-tards....otherwise where does it end?

Cherilyn: I don't have a problem with the 'burbs where you have heavy development. You can't safely go faster than 40 km/h on many of those roads anyway thanks to ridiculous planning, compromised line of sights and the apparent will to let developers squeeze as much profit out of the land as possible. However, I think protected transit routes are a nobrainer. Aubrey Rd, Beacon Pt Road, Aspiring Road, Brownston St and Cardrona Valley Rd are all examples of major transit routes. Keep them clear of encroaching development and keep them moving. If they want to make Brownston slower, time to develop the Golf Course Road link along with Ballantyne Rd. Can't work out why this was done now and not as part of that fancy "Master Plan" Council mentioned a while back.

Luke: How about re-sealing all main roads in Wānaka while there’s less traffic in town, instead of buying signs with tax money.

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

PAGE 9

Sun Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

TRADES AND SERVICES PLUMBING

FIREWOOD

Under New Management

Serving Wanaka and Central Otago Regions

• Bluegum

Call for free no obligation quotes

• Oldman Pine • Macrocapa

DRAINAGE

M: 021 709 918

l

PLUMBING

l

PHONE - ALANA 0275645644

GAS FITTING

Email - dixonkerry56@gmail.com

Talk to us about logging your trees

W: www.gwplumbing.co.nz

EVERY LETTERBOX EVERY THURSDAY

GW Logo Paths.indd 1

10/26/2017 11:38:28 AM

NOTICES

THANKS

Cut rags (100% cotton) and drop cloths, only $7 for a big bag. Now in the yard container at Wastebusters. Open 9-5 seven days.

Business Networking International–The Wānaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning.

Great networking opportunity to grow your business.

Contact Randal Dobbs for information 021 973 043.

The Salvation Army Family store is able to collect your donations, this service is available one day a week please phone the store on 443 5068 to make a booking.

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 Wānaka 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.

WANTED The Salvation Army Family Store urgently requires warm clothing, if you can help this would be greatly appreciated. Your donations can be dropped at 48 Helwick Street.

Is your Wānaka Sun delivered every Thursday?

FOR HIRE Campervan for hire - roomy 4 berth; take a trip away or accommodate visitors at home.

Details: tinyurl.com/Go2OxO

SHEARER AVAILABLE

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

SUN TEAM

WĀNAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ISSUE 998 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: Josh Baines • 021 786 740 adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz Admin: Benn Ashford • 021 956 740 admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Mail: PO Box 697, Wānaka Deadlines: Display Advertising 4pm Friday prior to publication. marketing@thewanakasun.co.nz

03 443 5252 Classified Advertising 5pm Monday prior admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Subscriptions: $175 within NZ (including GST)

per year. Overseas rates on request.

Remittances to PO Box 697, Wānaka, NZ.

PAGE 10

SITUATION VACANT

PUBLIC NOTICE BUSY AT WĀNAKA POOL

We are looking for a motivated and reliable Warehouse Person to join the friendly team at our Wanaka Branch.

Duties include: • Receipting products into the warehouse • Ensuring goods are put away • Accurately picking orders for dispatch • Deliveries as required • Serving customers over our trade counter as required Skills & experience requirements: • Have good attention to detail and take pride in your work • Have excellent communication skills • Be computer literate and safety conscious • Have a clean driver’s licence and the ability to drive a manual vehicle – a current forklift licence would also be advantageous • Be physically fit as there is some heavy/ awkward lifting involved How to apply: Please send your CV and cover letter through to: careers@jarussell.co.nz

16 OCTOBER – 11 DECEMBER

Local primary schools are visiting Wānaka Recreation Centre for their school swimming and water safety programme.

Until Friday 11 December there’ll be very limited public access to the learners’ pool between 9.00am-2.00pm every weekday except Thursdays and Fridays when half the pool will be free.

Other pool users may wish to schedule their visits to the learners’ pool around these times.

Four lanes in the lap pool will remain free for public swimming between 9.00am– 2.00pm weekdays during this period.

Many thanks for your co-operation while our local children learn these essential life skills.

For more info please contact (03) 443 9334 | wrc@qldc.govt.nz

Find out more about us at: www.jarussell.co.nz

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

Shearer for lifestyle blocks and small mobs. Experienced and reliable I have all my own portable equipment to get the job done.

Ph/txt Hamish 0273137419

STORAGE Clean, dry, safe storage available now.

Ezystor Self Storage, 12 Gordon Road, Wānaka, Ph: 021 242 1630.

GIB STOPPING Aspiring Interiors Offers Leading Gib Stopping Services For Residential & Renovations in Wānaka. Level Four Finish / Paint Finish. Machine Tools. Clean & Tidy. Reliable. Call Kahu 0210 2793 648, Email contact@aspiringinteriors.co.nz THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun News / Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

Another cat shot - locals getting worried Ollie Blyth

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade

Chief Brent Arthur said the van - named Tony - was “fantastically modern, efficient, fit for purpose and obviously very shiny.”

New van for Hāwea Fire Brigade Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

After two years of planning and gathering funds, the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade’s new van finally arrived in town ready for action last Thursday.

Chief Brent Arthur said the van - named Tony - was “fantastically modern, efficient, fit for purpose and obviously very shiny,” having been modified for the team with additional seating and space in the back for their gear, as well as sirens, lights and a radio.

Tony will be used as an operations support vehicle to carry gear and personnel. With nine seats, it is better suited for the growing number of volunteers in the brigade, now at 22, and the growing area they need to cover.

Arthur said that the van, which cost around $78,000 with modifications, was “a tribute to the many wonderful people, organisations and businesses of our local area that assisted with its

acquisition.”

The team received support from a number of local organisations, including the Central Lakes Trust, as well as the community - through donations and a fundraising quiz and auction event which raised over $20,000 in one evening.

“We have a really great community behind us,” acknowledged Arthur.

The brigade planned to hold an open day at the fire station to acknowledge that community and allow members of the public to see the new van up close, as well as having a look around the station and seeing the fire engine and other equipment the brigade used.

“Ironically, now that we have the new van, we actually hope that you see very little of it buzzing through town with its lights flashing and siren blaring,” said Arthur, who wished to remind the public that, with summer well on the way, we are now in a Restricted Fire Season.

Visit https://www.checkitsalright.nz/ for more information.

Following the death of Siamese cat Monty after a shooting a month ago, a black cat from the same area has had bullets removed from its body.

A string of similar fatalities, shootings, and disappearances of domestic cats had been reported over the last few years, and the frequency indicated that they may be deliberate attacks.

The owner of the most recent attack said that their black cat was shot at the end of August, but it was not initially identified as a shooting until recently, when they observed a hole near its neck and took it to the vet to have the bullets removed.

The owner was based in Meadowstone, and had a tabby cat go missing in 2019.

Miki Patterson, the owner of two cats shot last month, said her experience trying to get the police to investigate was not as she had hoped, “To be honest, I am very disappointed with the

Another cat shot in the Meadowstone area.

PHOTO: Supplied

response from the Police. Police are not able to take this seriously enough to take action, so what can we do? Use social media to spread the news as wide as we can and hopefully reach the people who are responsible for these pet shootings.”

The owner of the black cat had taken evidence to the police and thinks that in order to prevent future attacks, the community should do the same.

PUBLIC NOTICE

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Withdrawal of the Informal Recreation Zone from the Waiorau/Pisa Ski area from the Queenstown Lakes Council Proposed District Plan, Stage 1 & 2 Planning Maps Pursuant to Clause 8D of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act 1991, the General Manager of Planning and Development, acting under delegated authority, authorised the withdrawal of the following provisions of Stage 2 of the Proposed District Plan (PDP) on 19 October 2020: • The removal of the Informal Recreation Zone (IRZ) as part the Stage 2 Variation to the PDP from Lot 5 DP 460313 owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council and Lots 1-4 DP 460313 owned by Cardrona Valley Farms Limited.

The reasons for the withdrawal are: • The IRZ does not recognise the cross-country ski operation or car testing facilities that occur on this land.

• The withdrawal would result in the Stage 1 Waiorau/Pisa Ski Area Sub-Zone applying to the land, which sets out provisions that directly provide for ski area activities and car testing facilities for this area.

• The Stage 2 zoning variation unintentionally included privately owned land (Lots 1-4 DP 460313) which is inconsistent with the intent of the Informal Recreation Zone.

For further information on this matter please contact the Planning Policy team on 03 441 0499.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Copies of the draft CMS partial review can be inspected during working hours between 9.00am and 4.30pm at: • Department of Conservation National Office Wellington, • Department of Conservation Offices in Wanaka, Arthurs Point Queenstown, Alexandra, Dunedin, and Invercargill, • Department of Conservation Visitor Centre in Queenstown, Dunedin, and Christchurch.

Alternatively, you can download a copy on line at www.doc.govt.nz/otago-cms-partial where you will also find information about making a submission.

Written submissions on the draft CMS are invited until no later than 4.00pm, Monday 21 December 2020. Submissions should be posted to: Otago CMS Submissions Department of Conservation Private Bag 4715 CHRISTCHURCH 8140 or emailed to Otago_CMS@doc.govt.nz Any person or organisation wishing to be heard in support of their submission should state this in their submission. Submitters should be aware that any submission they make is subject to provisions of the Privacy Act 1993 and the Official Information Act 1982.

Aaron Fleming Director Operations Southern South Island

www.thewanakasun.co.nz

The Department of Conservation (DOC) gives public notice of the draft Otago Conservation Management Strategy (CMS) partial review under section 17F(a) of the Conservation Act 1987.

YOUR AD WILL REACH THE MOST LOCALS ONLINE IN

DRAFT OTAGO CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY PARTIAL REVIEW

Amendment to the November 2020 Meeting Schedule Additional Meeting: Resource Consent Hearing (S & B Currie RM200605) – Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre, Ardmore Street, Wānaka. Monday 16 November 2020 at 10.00am.

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

UPPER CLUTHA HOSPICE TRUST BOARD PROPOSED CHANGES TO ITS TRUST DEED – CONTRIBUTORS MEETING The Upper Clutha Hospice Trust Board (“The Trust”) is proposing to amend its Trust Deed as follows: • To extend the Objects of the Trust to better reflect the activities and services that the Trust is providing for the terminally ill in the Upper Clutha District • To strengthen the Administrative Procedures under which the Trust operates We are required to consult on our proposals with contributors to the Trust under Part 4 of the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. Contributors are entitled to vote on the proposed variations and may propose their own variations, under section 44 of the Act. Contributors may also request payment of their contribution to the Trust, under section 49 of the Act. Accordingly, the Trust invites contributors to a public meeting to be held as follows: 2:00pm, Wednesday November 18, 2020 St John Ambulance Conference Room, 4 Link Way, Wanaka To establish their status as Contributors, attendees will be required to produce evidence of their contribution, appear on the Trust’s Donors register or to agree their contribution with a Trustee at the meeting’s reception.

Details of the proposed changes are set out on the Trust’s website at www.uppercluthahospicetrust. org, or may be obtained on written request to the Trust’s Secretary at PO Box 779, Wanaka or to info@ uppercluthahospicetrust.org Russell McGeorge UCHTB Chairman and Meeting Convener

THE WĀNAKA SUN

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

PAGE 11

Sun Sport

Local boy New Zealand’s top U14 freeskier

PHOTO: Ross Mackay / Snow Sports NZ

Since returning from the USA ski series earlier this year with a silver and gold medal, twelve-year-old Luke Harrold has secured a podium place in every U14 ski competition in New Zealand this winter.

Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Local freeskier and Snow Sports NZ (SSNZ) National Development Team athlete, 12-yearold Luke Harrold from Hāwea, has had his most successful winter season yet.

Harrold first started skiing as part of the Hāwea Flat School’s winter school skiing programme when he was six. But Dad Brett Harrold said that, although it had begun “just for fun”, Harrold had progressed fast.

Since returning from the USA ski series earlier this year with a silver and gold medal, he has secured a podium place in every U14 ski competition in New Zealand this winter.

Competing in seven competitions at four

different ski resorts, Luke won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze, including winning the SSNZ Freestyle Series and the SSNZ U14 Junior National Title, ranking him the number one U14 freeskier in New Zealand.

Luke Hetzel, Snow Sports NZ High Performance Athlete Development Manager, said: “Luke Harrold is an extremely hard working athlete who has made a huge amount of progress in the last two years. It’s awesome seeing him distinguish himself in a very competitive New Zealand field, not to mention internationally.

Luke is definitely one to keep an eye on.”

His dad agreed, adding that Luke was set on getting good enough to compete more overseas, aiming for the Junior Olympics “or maybe even the Olympics.”

thewanakasun.co.nz

Superb vibe for ninth Deans Bank Ten Hour Joanna Perry

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

240 racers participated in this year’s ten-hour bike race at Deans Bank, the ninth year the event has taken place.

Bike Wānaka secretary Jo Goodwin said that the numbers were a little lower than usual, potentially due to Covid-19 travel uncertainties limiting the number of participants from the North Island, but “the vibe was superb and we were stoked with the day.”

Competitors rode the 11km loop track in 10 or 5-hour solo races, or 10-hour relay teams, pushing themselves to complete as many loops as possible. This year’s event also featured a new family division, with a team made up of juniors (12+) and adults all from the same family, as well as a kids’ race for 5 to 12-year-olds, which 20 kids took part in.

“This year for the first time, we allowed the over ten riders to do part of the main course

which was a thrill for the kids and the ten-hour racers,” recalled Goodwin. “The under tens rode laps of a smaller course within the race village and Wānaka Kids Club built some structures to play on with bikes.”

Goodwin said the amount raised was not yet confirmed, but all proceeds from the ten-hour event would go towards the build costs of Bike Wānaka’s new project - the Kirimoko Trails, a new biking area for the community above the Kirimoko development in Wānaka, due to begin construction next week.

PHOTO: Supplied

Competitors rode the 11km loop track in ten or fivehour solo races, or ten-hour relay teams, pushing themselves to complete as many loops as possible.

This year’s winners were as follows: Open men Solo 10 Hour - John Mezger (15 laps) U18 men Solo 10 Hour - Leo Staufenberg (15 laps) 50+ men Solo 10 Hour - Peter Jackson (14 laps) 50+ women Solo 10 Hour - Andrea Elvines (11 laps) Open men Solo 5 hour - Bryce Hamilton (8 laps) U18 men Solo 5 Hour - Lukas Schafer (8 laps) 50+ men Solo 5 Hour - Aaron Nicholson (7 laps) Team 10 Hour open men - BGD Martinovich (19 laps) Team 10 Hour open female - Mike Greer Homes Black (14 laps) Team 10 Hour mixed - Team Arrowbikes Nick/Teresa Noble (16 laps) Team 10 Hour School men - Waitaki Boys' High School (16 laps) Team 10 Hour school women - Fast and Furious (13 laps) Team 10 Hour school mixed - Skinny Wheels (14 laps) And for the third year running, KJB Construction won the 'Golden Pedal' in the Dunlop Builders Tradie Challenge.

www.resetsummit2020.com

DRINKS AT CRIFFEL

HELP MAP THE BIODIVERSITY ON OUR LAKE FRONT

THE CHANGING RURAL LANDSCAPE WĀNAKA COMMUNITY HUB

LEAVING FROM CRIFFEL STATION WOOLSHED

CRIFFEL STATION WOOLSHED

BREMNER BAY

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 7PM - 9.30PM

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 8.30AM - 5PM

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 6PM - 8PM

SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER 10AM - 3PM

PAGE 12

THURSDAY 29.10.20 - WEDNESDAY 04.11.20

THE WĀNAKA SUN