30 Jan - 5 Feb 2020 | Edition 959 by Wanaka Sun

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The dire straits of mental health services in Wānaka Caroline Moratti

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

Eden and Amanda Stewart with hero, Lisa Thorne at Penrith Beach.

Nine year old blown out hundreds of metres into Lake Wānaka Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

t’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Mother Amanda Stewart stood helplessly on Penrith Beach on Tuesday afternoon as her nine year old, playing in a small inflatable boat, was blown out into the lake. Her partner, Justin, who moments before had been within arms’ reach of nine-year-old Eden, went swimming after her with all his strength but couldn’t match the speed of the

boat in gusting wind. “I was on the boat and the wind was pushing me and it got really deep,” said Eden. “I was crying.” Eden’s mother said Justin was playing with all four of their kids at the far right of Penrith Beach when, “Eden jumped in the boat and did her own thing. In a matter of seconds she was gone.” Other beachgoers noticed Eden’s distress and the panic of her parents and tried to swim after the runaway boat but no one could match the boat’s speed.

Thankfully, local Lisa Thorne, came to the rescue. With a stand up paddle board and a good dose of adrenalin to increase her speed, she took off after the frightened child. Thankfully, Eden was wearing a lifejacket and remained in the boat so Thorne could easily grab the child and bring her back to shore. Police arrived at the scene just as Thorne was bringing her back to shore. “It’s a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong,” said Amanda. “It was really pretty frightening.”

PART ONE There is one mental health worker to every 416 people in Dunedin, but only 1 to every 2249 in Queenstown Lakes. Out of the four registered psychologists in Wānaka, one is so busy they’re not accepting any new patients, one has a waiting list of five months, another did not respond to an email that had simply asked about wait-times as a potential client. Although times are changing and practices such as counselling have become more socially acceptable in the clutches of New Zealand’s haggard masculinity complex, Wānaka still faces an uphill battle with mental health. The Wānaka Sun investigates. One in six NZ adults have been diagnosed with a common mental disorder at some point in their lives, so if it’s not you, it’s most likely someone you care about. The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) pays 2.5 full time mental health clinicians who provide services to the Wānaka community from the wider team that is based in both Frankton and Dunstan. There are also a handful of private counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists which are expensive and hold long waiting times. In 2013, psychiatric nurse, and now manager of psychiatric service Miramare, Kerry Hand was commissioned by the SDHB’s planning and funding team to review mental health in the area and produce a development plan. Hand recommended rebalancing of staff numbers out of Dunedin into areas like Central Otago Queenstown Lakes on the basis of population – as many as 150 staff positions. “A vast and unfair mismatch was occurring” he says, and he believes that is still the situation today. Continued on page 9

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Coronavirus requires ‘cool heads’ Francesca Maria Nespolo

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

“There have been no cases of the novel coronavirus identified in New Zealand,” assured a spokesperson from the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) to the Wānaka Sun on Tuesday 27. Nonetheless, local entities are taking extra precautions. Holy Family Catholic School and Mt Aspiring College are both encouraging any families who have recently returned to NZ from China to keep their children home from school for the next fortnight (regardless of whether symptoms are present or not), as advised by the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, the NZ tourism industry is working closely with the government, to support their efforts to control and prevent the spread of the virus. “While there are no confirmed cases of the virus in New Zealand, you can familiarise yourselves with the Ministry of Health of guidelines,” said James Helmore, general manager at Lake Wānaka Tourism. “We have been informed by Tourism New Zealand that China’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture has notified tourism bureaus in China to suspend the operation of group tour and flight and accommodation

packages,” explained Helmore. “I can confirm and reassure the community that I am advised that all relevant agencies are holding a watching brief and that readiness response plans are in place for the Southern District Health Board and Queenstown Airport. While I am aware there are now three suspected cases in Rotorua, and there may likely be more, I believe we are some way off the emergency management scenario,” said Jim Boult, Queenstown Lakes District Mayor. “It is absolutely critical that our community understands that the single source of truth in relation to what to do, how to respond and how to seek help comes from the Ministry of Health. This is a time for cool heads and pragmatism,” commented Boult. Mayor Boult also underlines the racist episodes that have bloomed along with the health concern regarding Coronavirus. “Finally, I have been advised of some antivisitor sentiment as a result of this issue. It is understandable to have concern about this unfolding health issue but it will never be acceptable to descend to racism and xenophobia. We must all unite to demonstrate zero tolerance in regard to any such behaviour and to stand up and call it out. In this country such behaviour is a criminal offence,” warned Boult.

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Wait, what? Wānaka’s rates Suspected cat killer causing stress compared to Queenstown Caroline Moratti Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

At a full council meeting today, councillors will be considering a rates re-set. Property valuations produced by Quotable Value as at 1 July 2017 will be used for the 2019/20 rating year. Whilst differentials can be expected between wards when rates are set, the fact that Wanaka’s are uniformly higher is concerning. For the purpose of this article, we are only using the residential rate. The roading rate for Wānaka ward is 0.000365 cents in the dollar. For a property with a QV of $1m, this means $365 spent on roads. In Queenstown, that same property would pay $217. The infrastructure, however, is exactly the same: “roading network, which includes footpaths and other amenities within the road reserve; the development of town centre areas, and the maintenance and upgrading of roading drainage systems.” For stormwater, that $1m Wānaka house will be

paying $158 whilst Queenstown will pay $116. For tourism promotion, accommodation providers in Wānaka will pay $1083, whilst Queenstown will pay $875 and Arrowtown will pay $836. Wānaka’s Rec centre is costing each household $186 but in Queenstown, their aquatic centre only costs $106. Water supply is more complex to work out as there is a flat charge as well as targeted rates. This is the only service where Wānaka comes out best, with a targeted rate of $169. Hāwea however, pays $289. Queenstown pays $201. There is no question that the infrastructure is desperately needed. It is also logical that Queenstown residents don’t want to pay for development over this side of the Crown Range, just as we don’t want to pay for development over there. However, the ‘Wānaka tax’ which affects everything from rates, to health care, to groceries to accommodation, adds yet another layer on a district where working class people are already struggling.

‘TikTok’ goes the online safety clock Ollie Blyth

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A new online craze has taken over youth across the world in the past year, and some say it has already put the minds of many young people in dangerous places. TikTok (formerly Musical.ly) is a video sharing social networking application where users share and view short videos averaging 15 seconds in length. Videos are recommended to users on a ‘for you page.’ Local 16-year-old Meg Thomas is a daily user of TikTok and has been trying to cut down use of the app in recent weeks, “I have realised that I have an addiction to TikTok. I set a limit of 45 minutes per day and everyday since then I have exceeded my limit… I think it is the fact that each video is 15 seconds long which means that my short attention span can get pleased easily.” Thomas said that users worldwide have created a number of different kinds of videos including the popular lip-syncing and dance videos that popularised the app. The concern comes when the app is growing so fast so quickly in recent years and all kinds of mature content is being mass-produced everyday. Some parents are becoming concerned that their children may be exposed to themes and imagery well above their maturity level. Even though the app has a technical age restriction of 12 years and above, “it is very easy to get past”, said Thomas, “I know people under the age of 12 that have TikTok. The content on the platform is quite mature. I haven’t really seen any pornographic images, but I do think that there’s a lot of insensitivity around people making fun of others.” Anastasia Basil wrote on the blog Scary Mommy that in scouting out the app prior to letting their child use it, they were exposed to videos nonchalantly referencing suicide, self harm, and sexually explicit themes. Basil points out that even if your child’s profile is set to private, meaning no one can see them, they can still see everyone – including porn, self harm, violence and other anti social content. There is no setting that filters out the bad stuff. A spokesperson from Netsafe NZ told the Wānaka Sun that the level of bullying and mature themes is just as strong on TikTok as it is elsewhere on other social media platforms. “TikTok accounts are public by default so anyone

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Missing cats can be a tough reality of life, but what if the truth were much sinister than that? Some Wānaka locals suspect foul play when it comes to the disappearances, and they might be right to worry. Ave Avoltsak says her cat went missing in September, despite not being the type to wander and instead stuck close to home. At this time 11 other cats went missing from the same Meadowstone neighbourhood. Avoltsak walked around her area with her partner three or four times daily for two weeks. She also put up posters, talked to residents, posted on Facebook and even talked to the radio station, but had no luck. “We didn’t find a single body,” Avoltsak says of the 12 missing cats. Sue Manson lost her cat around the same time and she too noticed the suspiciously high number of disappearances from the area. “The pattern was, at the start, in this area, tabbys, and usually around a weekend, one or two every week,” she explains. The residents started posting more Facebook and where the activity stopped for a week until, according to Manson, the Mt Iron area instead became the centre of disappearances. One cat returned to its owner with the front of its legs and belly shaved. “It hadn't been like that when it disappeared. Alarming to think someone was experimenting on them,” Manson says. Another came back with an air rifle injury. Manson said the police took the disappearances seriously and were concerned about the amount missing, however when the Wānaka Sun reached out to them, a spokesperson said “I've checked with local staff who were not aware of anything along these lines.” The fact remains that the disappearances remain suspicious, and the

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

One of the many missing cats posted on the Upper Clutha page.

possibility of someone purposely hurting cats is not one to be ruled out. Three years ago a Wānaka man was charged after shooting his neighbor's cat, leading to a foot amputation. In the meantime, residents are still grieving for the loss of their beloved pets. Manson says, “it's very distressing not knowing what happened, if they were scared, hurt, etc. And you just hope they knew they were loved and we were looking for them.”

The Council Word Speaking at Public Forum Reminder: if you want to speak during Public Forum at Council meetings, please let us know beforehand, (email governance@qldc.govt.nz or phone 03 441 0499). Tell us your name, organisation (if any) and topic. It’s not obligatory but helps us manage the meeting if you do.

Pop-up library

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

Meg Thomas is one local trying to limit her time spent on the addictive app.

on the app can see what your child shares, but only approved followers can send messages. Some of the most common concerns with TikTok is that users can see inappropriate content or be contacted by people they don’t know.” Netsafe also said, “take the time to teach your child the online safety basics before they start using social media and have regular and open conversations with them about their use of online apps to help mitigate the potential harm. Encourage your child to share with you if they have upsetting experiences and make sure they’re aware that any harassment, inappropriate language, bullying, or hacking can be reported to TikTok.” Despite the warning signs, Thomas added that often social media gets a bad wrap and that TikTok in particular has done a good job at unifying youth of all backgrounds, “there are strong communities everywhere for people to find unity… There’s a lot of support on

Try out the new ‘pop-up’ library service at Wānaka Recreation Centre every Tuesday and Thursday from 3.005.00pm. Sign up to become a library member, borrow and renew books, DVDs and magazines, place holds and find out about upcoming events and kids’ programmes. You can return books in the box provided anytime, even when the pop-up isn’t staffed.

Wondering how to safely dispose of batteries? Our first tip…never put them in your rubbish or recycling wheelie bin! Batteries can be damaged during the collection process which can cause them to combust. This is particularly the case for Lithium ion batteries such as those in cell phones, laptops, power tools, e-bike batteries and other rechargeable items. You can tell if it’s a lithium ion battery because it’s normally marked

Li-ion. Many types of batteries can be dropped off for recycling at the Wakatipu Recycling Centre and Wastebusters. For more details on how to responsibly dispose of your used batteries, head to www.qldc.govt.nz/hazardous-waste

Summer reading bingo ends soon Hey kids, time is running out to tick more boxes on your library summer reading bingo cards! They need to be back with our Libraries team by Saturday 1 Feb to go into the draw for some awesome prizes. Make sure you’re in to win, and happy reading!

MAC swim sports Mount Aspiring College is holding its annual swim sports at the Rec Centre on Wednesday 5 Feb. The lap pool, main changing rooms and both indoor courts will be closed between 9.00am-3.00pm. The adult hot pool will remain open and Swim School classes will run as normal. Many thanks for your co-operation. For more info call 443 4102 or email wrc@qldc.govt.nz.

Pool workout Get a full-body workout on the floating aqua boards at Wānaka pool. Casual bookings welcome - please email wrc@qldc.govt.nz for more info.

www.qldc.govt.nz

THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

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Sun News

Rodeo Club hands out $12,500 to locals

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Fallen tree removed

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Following another successful rodeo, the Wanaka Rodeo Club has shared its gate takings with various local Wānaka and Upper Clutha clubs and organisations. In total, the club’s annual event generated in excess of $12,500 for community groups and its major gift of $5000 was donated to Wānaka charity Food for Love, which the club believes makes a huge contribution to the lives of so many locals. Club president Patrick McCarthy said he was proud his club is able to support the local community in this manner. Food For Love, which provides free home cooked meals for families and individuals in need, is a local organisation truly worthy of support, he said. “The Club was told that Food for Love has struggled to keep up with demand for its meals and the running costs associated with its service,” Patrick said. “We’re hoping this grant will help them to keep going.” Food for Love’s Bex Sarginson said she was very excited by the unexpected donation to the charity. “It’s a lot of money and I had no idea this donation would come our way. I’m really stoked,” she said. “There are so many ways we can use this money.” A number of other local organisations also benefited from the Wanaka rodeo as they were invited to use the event to raise funds by providing a service at the rodeo. These included the Hawea-Wānaka Pony Club

PAGE 4

Fallen poplar is removed from Clutha River at Albert Town.

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Rodeo Club president Patrick McCarthy presents a cheque for $5000 to Food for Love charity coordinator Bex Sarginson.

which managed the admissions at contestant and trade gates; NZ Riding for the Disabled (Wānaka Branch) which sold rodeo programmes; Alpine Street Machine who managed the parking and the public admission at the main gate; Wanaka Rowing Club which was contracted to clean up the grounds after the event; and Wanaka Community Patrol which provided security services at the grounds and assisted with traffic management and control at the single-lane Albert Town bridge. These groups each raised somewhere between $1000 to $2200, which for some represents a significant income for their club or group.

A successful operation led by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) on Tuesday has removed a large poplar tree from the Clutha River at Albert Town. The tree fell into the river after December’s high river flows accelerated riverbank erosion. ORC Manager Engineering Michelle Mifflin thanked those who had helped to remove the tree. “We had a great extended team of ORC staff, the QLDC Harbourmaster and Parks and Reserves, and NZ Transport Agency’s contractor Aspiring Highways, along with Go Jets Wanaka and Mike Hurring Logging and Contracting. Everyone did their bit and everything ran smoothly thanks to careful planning and prioritising safety.” Ms Mifflin said it wound up being a “huge” exercise that was well-executed. “Because of the inaccessibility of the riverbank where the tree had fallen, as well as the size of

THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

PHOTO: ORC

the tree and the speed of the Clutha current, we had a very detailed plan and contingencies for all possible risks. “We looked at a few options for removing the tree, even the possibility of using a helicopter, but settled on the approach of using a bulldozer and excavator upstream on the far bank, and winching the tree across the river. It seems complicated but it was really the best solution for the conditions.” Ms Mifflin said the tree needed to be removed for safety and to protect infrastructure. “It was a bit like an iceberg because a lot of it was invisible under the water, and that could have posed a safety risk to swimmers and kayakers. There was also risk that it could damage the riverbank or the downstream bridge if it was mobilised by the current.” ORC’s Engineering team’s is required to remove obstructions that are detrimental to flowing river systems and waterways. The crew also felled and removed another poplar on the riverside, which was at the same risk of erosion.

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Sun News

Central Otago wine pioneer joins Tourism Advisory Board Francesca Maria Nespolo

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Central Otago is the world’s southernmost wine region and the highest, driest, hottest and coldest wine region in New Zealand. That being said, without experts, it wouldn’t reach its true potential. One such expert is Rudi Bauer, respected award-winning Quartz Reef winemaker, which resulted in being the successful appointee to the Central Otago Tourism Advisory Board. Rudi fills the vacant position created when board member Dylan Rushbrook took up the role of general manager for Tourism Central Otago in early 2019. A priority action in the Central Otago Tourism Strategy is to leverage the growth in wine and food tourism, and Central Otago’s ultra-premium positioning. “Rudi’s long history and many connections are sure to come into play as we move forward in this space,” said Rushbrook. He added, “As

Community farewells Plunket Nurse of 25 years

PHOTO: Supplied

Rudi Bauer, respected award-winning Quartz Reef winemaker.

the region further develops visitor experiences in the wine and food space, his innovative and early adoption of organic/biodynamic growing principles highlight that Rudi is truly committed to ensuring that we leave our place better for future generations. His personal attributes and philosophy are perfectly aligned with the values that underpin and guide Tourism Central Otago”.

Hospice brings valuable Kowhai programme to Central Otago Francesca Maria Nespolo

Helen Umbers smiles by her cake and decorations.

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A programme described as “empowering” will start in Wanaka on February 12 and there is no fee to participate. Research completed by Dr Jennifer Angelo, a Hospice occupational therapist, using a research method called photovoice showed that there was a need for a programme that gave caregivers the tools, knowledge and confidence to carry out the multiple tasks they need to perform to keep their family members safe, comfortable and maintaining a meaningful quality of life. Jennifer based the programme on the things that the caregivers identified – things that health professionals take for granted and that can cause real anxiety for someone caring for their loved one – “managing medications, getting someone up in the night to the toilet, what to tell the children or the grandchildren, what to expect in the last days,” explained Ginny Green, Hospice CEO. “We started the programme in 2010, and it has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the people we support. We had significant interest from other hospices and many have developed a programme of their own based on ours. We are really proud of this. We have run the programme in Dunedin for 10 years, and have a website of resources for patient carers to use anytime,” said Green. Green said it was clear Hospice needed to offer these face-to-face sessions throughout Otago. “This programme is open to the family/whānau

A big sign hangs off the Plunket fence, farewelling Helen.

PHOTO: Supplied

Kowhai Programme Coordinator Denise van Aalst with Madeleine Esdaile the Clinical Manager at Aspiring Enliven, who is hosting the Wānaka sessions at their premises.

carers of any patients registered with the Hospice programme in Central Otago. We currently have about 50 people on our programme in the region and they are able to choose to attend in Alexandra or Wānaka. The programme lasts for five weeks and three to four topics are covered at each session. In Dunedin we run two programmes each year and have around 20 attendees for each programme,” shared Green. Registering is not mandatory, but it will help the organisers “for planning and catering purposes but we are happy if they just turn up on the day. What is important is that they are able to join us,” concluded Green.

Helen and the rest of the Plunket crew enjoy the festivities.

PHOTOS: THE Wānaka Sun

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OPINION By Jim Boult, QLDC Mayor

Tourism appears to be remarkably resilient Tourism is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest industry by a significant margin having surpassed dairy for the honours some time ago. I read recently that 13 percent of New Zealanders now work in the industry. On that basis, tourism is massively important to us as a country, and of course locally where it is the principal economic driver for our region. Whether you’re directly involved in the industry or not, these visitors are vitality important to us all and the industry is currently facing some issues. Like most sectors, tourism will experience fluctuations from time to time. In the Queenstown Lakes District we have had very strong growth, (perhaps some would say almost too strong), since the end of the Global Financial Crisis around 2012, until last year when numbers started to decline. This softening hasn’t been massive, but it certainly has been felt by operators and retailers around the district so far this summer. Our local position has also not been helped by the adverse weather we experienced in the period leading up to Christmas and immediately afterwards. There are many reasons for the downturn, but they primarily relate to events happening elsewhere in the world rather than here in New Zealand. The UK market has fallen steeply as the Brit’s struggle with the issues

around Brexit. Similarly, the Chinese market has gone soft on the back of some uncertainty around their economy. Fortunately to date, the USA and Australian markets have held up reasonably well. As I write this, concerns around the Chinese Coronavirus are also breaking news. By the time you read this, hopefully there will be some more certainty around the control measures but this will certainly have serious consequences for New Zealand’s largest industry and our district. Many businesses will feel the pain and we should be prepared for some job losses, (having said that, we have virtually no unemployment in the district so the effect should be minor). Personally, I have been in the tourism industry for around 38 years and the benefit of my experience tells me the industry will bounce back in the relatively short term. Issues, like Coronavirus, have hit the industry in the past, (SARS, Asian Bird Flu, GFC, Asian Currency Crisis, etc). Tourism appears to be remarkably resilient and I’m sure it will regenerate and continue to financially support our communities financially. One upside lies in the pressure felt from rapid growth. A pause in tourism industry growth will certainly give us time to catch our breath.

Take a tour today The only constant is change. And the same is true at Aspiring Lifestyle Retirement Village where we are currently extending our lifestyle facilities to provide even more “lifestyle” to our residents. We have several show homes available to view, or take a tour of our beautifully landscaped grounds. Plus we’ve recently extended the Aspiring Enliven Care Centre to offer a further 12 rooms, providing greater access to care for our residents should they require it.

Open Daily 11am to 3pm Visit Aspiring Village today: Call Ursula to arrange a time on 443 6660 or drop in to 14 Golf Course Road between 11am and 3pm

PAGE 6

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THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

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Sun News

HOBBIES

Need a hobby? Try Yoga!

Keity Garcia shows off her famous yoga skills.

Caroline Moratti

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

It’s nearing the end of January, and if you’re already thinking about calling quits on your New Year's resolution to be more active, consider something less stressful than a gym environment. Yoga has gained popularity in recent years as a form of mindful exercise that people of all ages, sizes and experience can get into. The Wānaka Sun decided to explore this new hobby, and spoke to Keity Garcia, from Wānaka business Soul Yoga, to better understand the pastime. The first thing Garcia says is “Yoga is more than the practice on the mat.” To her, yoga is a style of life, permeated by values of self-discovery and discipline that forms the base of any kind of Yoga. Only then do you integrate the more well-known aspects of breathing, mind and body that gives yoga its notorious reputation. There’s many different kinds of yoga, from Aerial, Hatha, Ashtanga to Vinyasa and many more, so there’s something to suit everyone.

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PHOTO: Supplied

So if you’re suddenly feeling inspired to roll out a mat and do some downwards facing dog, what should you know before going? Garcia insists that “for a complete beginner, it is good to look for an instructor who gives more attention to your needs, not to feel intimidated by the flexibility and movement of others in the class and, the most important, respect the limits of your body.” After all, the last thing you want to do is injure yourself in pursuit of a stress-free lifestyle. Leave the denim pants at home, no matter how good they look, and instead show up in something comfortable that you can fully move in. Try to eat light before the class and avoid drinking water during the practice, except for Hot Yoga which is a whole other story. If you follow these rules, expect to walk out feeling relaxed and well-stretched. Wānaka boasts a whole range of yoga instructors who teach in gyms, homes and studios. If you’ve vowed to exercise more but shudder at the thought of running, consider yoga a perfect compromise to try out this year.

Rock climbing in Wānaka requires nerves, and hands, of steel.

PHOTO: Wānaka Rock Climbing Club

The only way is up Francesca Maria Nespolo

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

For those wishing to be more active this year, consider climbing as part of a new routine. Research has shown that one is hard pressed to find a better full body and mind work out than rock climbing. The dynamic movements on variable surfaces ensures a unique workout that is constantly challenging new muscles. In addition to the non-stop pushing, pulling and lifting required there is a constant level of cardiovascular fitness needed to get through the routes. Ranging from beginner to advanced the local gym or crag (outdoor wall), there is something for everyone. With problem solving and balance being another essential component

of the sport the brain may also benefit from this multifaceted sport! When asked about the fitness offered by the sport a local climber, a spokesperson from the Wānaka Rock Climbing Club said, “There is just no activity that can challenge my mind, body and soul in the same way!” Wānaka has no shortage of places to sample the sport. If starting outside seems a bit too ambitious then start indoors at Basecamp. But if you are feeling confident, hit the crag. With a harness and a pair of shoes Wanaka’s Rock Climbing club (easily found on Facebook) will help with the rest. The group’s Facebook page makes it very easy to find a climbing buddy, as well as finding the right wall appropriate to your ability.

Wanaka Skin Cancer Clinic Comprehensive skin checks now available with one of our accredited GPs trained in skin cancer management. Remember to slip, slop, slap and wrap.

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THE WĀNAKA SUN

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PAGE 7

Sun News

Hillend truck safari ‘magnificent’

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Crimeline

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Bopp C Calvin Constable, NZPD Hello everyone. Hope you’ve all been enjoying the warm weather. On Monday there was a report of a vehicle’s rear windscreen that had been smashed in Albert Town. If it rings any bells and you know something then call into the station and see us. On Tuesday an individual was arrested for using an item that they weren’t authorised to. Keep in mind if you do have a special benefit for work purposes, only use that benefit as it is made for. Wednesday was a bit busier for us. A report was taken where a caravan was broken into. A shoplifter was dealt with. Please don’t pull a sneaky one and get things through the selfcheckout without paying properly for them. Another car’s rear windscreen was smashed this time in Wānaka. A report was also taken where a person’s bank account was accessed and a lot of KFC transactions were made. There was an incident of a vehicular nature as well. Not so much a crash but rather a handbrake malfunction that then impacted the cars behind it

The highlight of the safari was the view over Lake Wānaka and Cardrona Valley.

On Thursday a fire alarm went off at a local eatery. An opportunistic family decided to not come back and scarpered without paying the bill. A heinous act and one that does not set a good example for the kidlets. A family harm incident was attended. On Friday another family harm incident was dealt with. A person in mental distress also required our help. A crash also but minor in nature where the driver got into gravel in Northlake and then crashed through a fence. In the evening a drink driver was nabbed and general chaos erupted on Brownston Street when a bar closed resulting in people behaving poorly. Sad to see but not surprising for us. On Saturday there were two driving complaints dealt with. Stay safe out there and drive defensively. A report of a burglary was taken where an irrigation timer was stolen. The evening crew also got three drink drivers off the street. Sunday was a relatively carefree day with most of the station catching up on paperwork. Have a great week and stay safe especially with the heat. Cars are ovens so don’t leave kids or pets in them. Also keep remembering to lock those houses and cars.

GREBE DIARY 8 Sixty trucks with 150 people enjoyed the stunning safari scenery.

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Wānaka and Districts Lions Club 4WD Safari to Hillend Station was brought forward a day due to weather and thankfully, they did because it was a stunner. The level of interest in the safari was unprecedented so two trips with 30 trucks each ran through Hillend Station, owned by Sam

PAGE 8

January 26 2020

PHOTOS: Supplied

Morgan and managed by Mike Scurr. Steve Richmond, convenor of the safari, said there was a variety of newcomers and old-hats but that all 150 had a brilliant time. “The highlight of the trip would have been the stop at the highest point (1000m) [with] magnificent views of Wānaka and Cardrona Valley,” he said. “Everything went well.” A donation from the proceeds of the safari will be made to Wānaka Search and Rescue.

Grebes are safe with next generation Some 18 months after I started the grebe project I was invited to give a talk to children at Holy Family School. A short time later my attention was drawn to the eight-year-old pictured above, by the name of Jack. Unbeknownst to me, Jack took it on himself to busk outside the supermarket with his guitar to raise money for a grebe nesting platform. Not only did he raise over $100 for a platform, he helped build one with his dad. Together with his younger brothers and mum and dad and a few extra children they have been with the programme ever since. We have fledged close to 300 chicks over the years, so it seemed only right that Jack should write this diary before he returned to his education in a faraway place. He’s been my right hand man and I am going to miss him, big time. This is what he wrote: “This season has been quite unusual. First off all the lake was too low, then too high and now there seems to be lots of lone birds trying to nest. This weekend we observed birds on nests two, three, five, seven, eight, 11 and 12. There were two eggs on nest two, two eggs on nest 11 and three eggs on nest seven. There were birds mating on nest eight. This looked promising however a few days later there were birds only on two, (duet January 31) and seven, (due January 27) 11 and 12 and an abandoned egg on eight. On a good note we did see two adults with a juvenile about two months old building a nest on nest 14. We have also had reports and photographs

THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

PHOTO: Supplied

Jack Sandford has been John Darby’s right hand man in establishing the grebe population on Lake Wānaka.

from members of the public who have seen adults and juveniles whilst out on the lake, around places like Dublin Bay and Lake Hāwea so this is also very exciting. We will await the winter survey with much anticipation and hope to report sightings of juveniles that have survived. The Grebe Recovery Project was an awesome experience for me and as I head off to boarding school at John McGlashan I will certainly miss it, but will be back next summer to help out”. – Jack Sandford (13)

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

NZ Winemaker The dire straits of mental health services in Wānaka Continued from page 1 of the Year This report was largely ignored and today the SDHB’s mental health staffing of the Central goes to Lakes area stands at around 30.5. SDHB’s General Manager Mental Health, Addictions Wānaka star and Intellectual Disability, Louise Travers says

PHOTO: Supplied

Jen Parr of Valli Vineyards was named New Zealand Winemaker of the year by magazine Gourmet Traveller WINE.

Caroline Moratti

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Central Otago winemakers continue to showcase their world-class talent, and Jen Parr of Valli Vineyards is no exception, having been named the 2020 New Zealand Winemaker of the year. The award is given by eminent wine magazine Gourmet Traveller WINE, with Parr having received finalist accolades last year, the only person to have been nominated as a finalist two years in a row in the history of the awards. Gourmet Traveller WINE editor Judy Sarris says Parr couldn’t be more deserving of the award, saying “her experience and attention to detail serve her well when creating wines of great quality and sense of place that are bound to delight any discerning wine lover.” Parr, originally from the US but who now resides in Wānaka, credits her success to those around her, saying “the Central Otago Wine Community has been a tremendous support to me and an integral part of my success. The competition that exists amongst us is of a healthy nature and serves purely as a motivation for us to work hard and not let each other down.” This latest award is one in a long line of many. She’s previously won ‘Champion Wine of Show’ and ‘Champion Winemaker Award’ at the New Zealand International Wine Show, ‘Platinum Best in Show’ at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards, not to mention Winemaker of the Year as part of the NZ International Aromatics Competition. Valli Vineyards founder Grant Taylor described Parr as “the most thoughtful winemaker I know.”

“this historic report from 2013 would have been considered at the time.” Hand believes the current state of mental health in the Lakes district is poor, “because of the significant under resourcing and the wrongful retention of resources in Dunedin. The existing staff need to work in a defensive way to meet the workload. Access is not easy.” This year Hand obtained official staff numbers supplied by the SDHB as a result of an Official Information Act request. According to his figures and estimations of population, there is one mental health worker to every 416 people in Dunedin, but only 1 to every 2249 in Queenstown Lakes, which shows the staggering inequality of distribution. Hand believes SDHB’s “reluctance to change is mostly around the inability to solve their internal politics” rather than any funding issues. He believes there is hope however, as the SDHB mental health operation has seen new management, and therefore potential for change. Long waits and few professionals The long waiting times to see a counsellor or a clinical psychologist is a huge concern for the Wānaka area. Out of the four registered psychologists in Wānaka, one is not accepting any new patients, one has a waiting list of five months, another did not respond to an email that had simply asked about wait-times as a potential client, which is in itself worrying. Out of the three professional counsellors in the area, one has an eight to 12-week waitlist, one is a relationship counsellor based in Wellington and only travels to Wānaka for trips, and one is a Christian counsellor which, understandably, you probably wouldn’t go to unless you share the same faith. These are all hard-working, amazing, professional people, but the extent of the waiting times showcase how stretched the region is for mental health staff. Travers explains that the SDHB team has a vacancy in the clinical psychologist role, which is currently being advertised for. “This is unfortunately impacting on the wait times for this therapy,” she says. Travers goes on to say that the services provided by the Central Lakes Community Mental Health Team are for people experiencing a moderate to severe level of distress/mental illness that require specialist assessment and treatment: “Referrals are triaged and a decision is made on how soon someone can be seen depending upon their needs.” Annemette Sorensen, a Wānaka-based clinical

PHOTO: Supplied

Kerry Hand argues that more mental health staff is needed in the Lakes area.

Alexandra Hodge leds the Wanaka Mental Health Peer Support Group.

psychologist, has a waiting list of five months. She runs a full-time practice, seeing six clients a day and specialises in adult mental health. “There is a huge demand for psychological assessments, psychotherapy and counselling in the community, but not enough of a trained workforce. Yes, there is a significant shortage of clinical psychologists in the Wānaka/Queenstown/Central Otago region, as probably everywhere, but even more so in rural areas,” Sorensen says, adding that there are a number of excellent counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists in Wānaka but “we are all busy.” Sorensen goes on to say that, “It is a well-known reality that mental health has traditionally been seen as less important than physical health, which explains why there are far less clinical psychologists and psychiatrists trained and brought to the workforce than GPs and medical specialists.” Unlike most health-care models, treatment for psychological distress is now being demanded from a psychological input like psychotherapy rather than a pure medication-based approach, which requires more staff than other health care practices. Sorensen says a real concern to her is “that people who are financially vulnerable do not have the means to see a psychologist, as psychologists are not subsidised by the government the way staff in medical general practices are.” With political parties like the Green Party promising free counselling to all under 25’s, the cost issue is something that may be hashed out in the upcoming election. Living with bipolar in Wānaka Local, Vicki Wise has struggled with bipolar disorder for the past few years, often going in and out of Dunedin’s Wakari Hospital for treatment and care. The longest she’s stayed in hospital is six months and has undergone various drug changes as well as 24 sessions of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Living in Wānaka for mental health care is “really hard,” Wise admits. “We need to have a crisis bed somewhere in the region.” A crisis bed is a temporary bed in a supportive, safe environment, an alternative from the more drastic inpatient hospitalization. Wise recalls the last time she was in crisis, it took 12 hours from when she placed a call to the mental health team to when she eventually was placed in a bed in Wakari. “You’re already feeling really not well, and then you have to go all the way down to Dunedin, and deal with the emergency psychiatric service, and wait a couple of hours for their registrar to come and find you, and they’ll interview you again, and see if there’s a bed for you and then you’ll eventually get to a bed in the the ward. It’s really tough,” she says Travers, from SDHB, says that if a person is considered to be in crisis, they will be seen in a relatively short time frame. This could involve being assessed via telehealth with a specialist in Dunedin, or supported to travel through to Dunedin for an assessment. “The service works hard at keeping wait times as short as possible and we ask the community to remember that utilising the local GP services should always be the first point of contact,” Travers says. That being said, there is an after-hours oncall team supported by the Dunedin-based Emergency Psychiatric Service if your crisis doesn’t really fit within the 9-5 working week. A crisis plan is then made at the time with the person and their whanau, such as Wise’s case of travelling down to Dunedin. If a hospital such as Dunstan were to offer a crisis bed, this could help people like Wise who need temporary supervision and care in the Upper Clutha region. End of part one. Next week we look at local community services plugging the gaps in support for mental health in Wānaka, and the financial cost of seeking help.

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THE WĀNAKA SUN

THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

PAGE 9

Sun Farming

Top acts confirmed for A&P Show

A monthly column by Elizabeth McGruddy, Federated Farmers Senior Policy Adviser.

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Identifying the ‘who dunnit’ is a freshwater priority McGruddy K Elizabeth Federated Farmers Senior Policy Adviser The swimming season is upon us. Are our favourite swimming spots good to go? And if not, why not? We know that most rivers are safe to swim, but some are not. Currently around 70 percent of swimmable rivers (rivers with enough water to get wet in) are safe for primary contact. The national target is 80 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2040. The government’s latest freshwater proposals recommend that priority be given to the popular swimming rivers, during the swimming season. Regional councils are expected to monitor these sites every week through summer to check for the presence of E. coli (bacteria found in faeces). If any sites breach the swimming standards, the next step is to identify the causes and develop action plans to address them. Federated Farmers agree this a sensible priority and a sensible plan. E coli monitoring can tell us that bugs are in the water, but it won’t tell us where they came from. For that we need ‘faecal source tracking’ tools to find out “who dunnit” – was it humans or animals or maybe ducks. Last month Environment Southland released the results of work by ESR analysing “who dunnit” from 50 sites across Southland. The smallest source was human (detected at ten of the 50 sites). But because human bugs are “host specific”, human waste is considered the greatest risk to human health. ESR recommends first priority to keeping human waste out of water. At base flow (when it’s not raining), the dominant source across all catchments was wildfowl, presumably from direct deposition (into or adjacent to the water). After rain, the dominant source was ruminant (cow, sheep, deer, goat), presumably from run-off. The levels were highly variable: at some sites ruminants were estimated as less than 1 percent of the load, at others up to 100 percent. Levels from ruminants seemed to peak around autumn, suggesting autumn rains flushing accumulated material off the paddock.

thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: THE Wānaka Sun

Regional councils are expected to monitor popular swimming river spots every week through summer to check for the presence of E. coli.

ESR suggested a range of strategies – first priority to fixing any failing sewerage networks or septic tanks, looking at strategic places to intercept runoff, culling wildfowl – but their major recommendation was that one-size solutions would not work. Instead ESR recommended ground-truthing: “…visual inspections of the sites are highly recommended in providing as much detail as possible on which informed decisions can be made. Because of the complex interaction of faecal source, land topography, soil type and climatic factors, one solution will not be suited to, or effective for, all sites. A site-specific solution that considers these various factors will yield the greatest benefit. Mitigations should be prioritised based on risk assessments that identify priority areas for improvement, whilst also considering which strategies provide the greatest return on investment.” Federated Farmers critiqued many aspects of the government's proposed freshwater package. But on the importance of monitoring data and prioritised action plans, we are on the same page. Others have criticised “bottom-up” monitoring and action plans as ‘soft options’, instead favouring “top-down” limits and regulation. These results from Southland suggest the top-down approach would be hit-and-miss at best. If we are serious about meeting our swimming targets – or our ecosystem health targets – there is no substitute for site specific data and catchment-specific action.

The Wanaka A&P Show has announced a jampacked entertainment lineup for this year’s anticipated event. Kiwi kids’ entertainer and 2019 Dancing With The Stars favourite Suzy Cato, Magic Guy Wayne McEwan, the New Zealand Army Band, singing sisters Jenny and Nicola Mitchell, and Wānaka country-rock band Cemetery Road are some of the acts confirmed to take the stage on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, 2020. Wanaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker says she is thrilled to have secured such highquality acts for the 83rd Show. “We are incredibly excited to offer an entertainment line-up of broad appeal – there is certainly something to suit every generation, from live music and comedy to stories and singalongs for the children,” she says. The Life & Style Marquee will feature The Block Challenge – a new showcase where two celebrity teams will face off against each other to make the best picnic table and style an outdoor space. The table will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Wānaka Community Hub. Also presenting at Life & Style will be celebrated Kiwi chef Fleur Sullivan, who’ll talk about her tremendous career while cooking live on stage, plus the Cardrona Distillery will be telling their story while offering whiskey and gin tastings.

PHOTO: Supplied

Suzy Cato is only one of many family-friendly entertainers coming to this year’s A&P show.

A special marquee will be set up to share the stories of the Wanaka A&P Show Acres of Ingenuity campaign winners – Hook, LandEscape, New Zealand Cherry Partnership and Taylor Pass Honey Co. Acres of Ingenuity celebrates the many diverse agricultural and pastoral enterprises that exist in the Upper Clutha. The ever-popular traditional entertainment favourites of equestrian and livestock events, plus wood chopping, sheep shearing and the worldfamous K9 Natural Jack Russell Race, also return for 2020.

ORC water consents give uncertainty and doubt Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

After years of delay, months of deliberation and a ministerial intervention, ORC has settled on a compromise that appears to not please anyone. Cr Marian Hobbs, Chair, Otago Regional Council said, “The aim of [last week’s] discussion was to identify the option for this plan change which best matched the recommendations from Minister for the Environment, Hon. David Parker...” She continued, “Councillors voted in favour of the option which most closely aligned with Minister Parker’s recommendations to achieve short term, relatively low-cost consents in the interim, while ORC’s Land and Water Regional Plan is developed. This option will apply a blanket approach to ensure that all applicants will have access to a consent term of no more than seven years and will base allocation on actual water use over the five-year period from 2012-2017.”

However, the short-term solution leaves local farmers in a liminal state. Councillor Michael Laws has spoken out against the decision, saying, short-term consents for existing Central and Lakes water users “will create uncertainty and add to the anxiety already evident in our communities.” There will be no long-term water consents granted. Council will be required to complete its Regional Plan, its Regional Water Plan and any new plans to meet national standards on freshwater, prior to the granting of any longterm consents. “As I pointed out on Wednesday, the inequities built into this policy are serious. Almost 60 deemed permits applications have already been given consents, and 80 percent of those are for periods of 25-35 years. “The effect of Wednesday’s decision is to effectively put any new agricultural, horticultural or viticultural development into stasis. It will have significant repercussions for the Central Otago and Lakes’ economy.”

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THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Sport

thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Simon Williams/AuthenticAs

The swimming contest was enjoyed by both participants and those that watched from the shore.

Ruby Swim a success despite poor weather Caroline Moratti

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

The annual Ruby Swim took place on Saturday despite initial concerns about weather. The event drew its largest crowd, with estimates of around 450 participants that took part in the various swimming lengths and races around the island. The rain and the wind caused some concern; “We had a metre and a half swell in the morning

at the north side of the island, and that caused us to put the whole event back an hour,” says coorganiser Eddie Spearing. Thankfully the weather settled down enough for the community event to continue, which has only been cancelled once in its six-year history. The Ruby Swim is well known for its ruby rings that they bestow upon the male and female winners of the 2.5km swim. This year however, they were able to one-up that and gift every

participant a coloured crystal ruby as a finishers medal, which corresponded to cap colour and race. The idea was five years in the making, and Spearing described the crystals as beautiful. Cameron Stanley, head coach of the Wānaka swim club, broke a Ruby Swim record by 20 minutes, by completing the 10km in 2hr:13m. Not only that, but straight after, in a fast turnaround, he competed in the 2.5km, with Spearing describing Stanley as “basically walking into water as I’m

doing the countdown.” Stanley went on to place third in the event, an incredible effort. All in all despite the weather, the day was a success. Spearing says “We’ve got to thank all the support team, because really without the jetski support, it would make life really difficult. We had 13 jet skiers, four boats, coastguard, harbormaster, some kayakers, and without them, we would have to call it off.” The one-day event takes 10 months to organise, and is a labour of love

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott fifth in X Games slopestyle Francesca Maria Nespolo

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

On January 25, local snowboarder Zoi SadowskiSynnott finished fifth in the Jeep Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle at X Games Aspen. When asked if she was satisfied with her results, Sadowski-Synnott replied “I am, given how tricky it was dealing with the new format. It was a big lesson for me in competing and adapting to changes like that. So I’m happy with that aspect”. Using the new jam format, in which riders are ranked on overall impression rather than scored for individual runs, the eight finalists were able to complete four runs within the 35-minute competition window. “I think the new jam format is a great idea in theory, it gives us more runs and more chances to show a greater variety of tricks to do in different runs. However, testing it out at X Games was a bit confusing as we didn’t get to

see scores, just rankings. “For Big Air I feel like it worked really well where instead of just two tricks you could show the judges more and get rewarded for having a variety of spins and directions,” said SadowskiSynnott. The three rail, four jump course proved challenging with the entire field struggling to put down clean runs on their first attempt. With a stumble on the second rail of her first run and then a crash on the first jump of the second, Sadowski-Synnott was sitting in eighth place midway through the competition. “She landed a new trick for the first time in competition – a 1080 (three full rotations in the air) in the Snowboard Big Air,” explained Alex PHOTO: ESPN Press Room Kerr, communications manager at Snow Sports Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in the Jeep Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle at X Games Aspen. NZ. Pushing to move up into a podium spot on “Coming into X Games as one to watch versus definitely the most hectic week I’ve ever had, her fourth and final run, Sadowski-Synnott went for a 1080 but couldn’t stick the landing and the underdog last year taught me a lot and I felt doing both Big Air and Slopestyle with a fourthe pressure. The overall atmosphere was heavy, jump course,” she concluded. would finish the day in fifth place.

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PAGE 11

Sun News

Warbirds set to host huge military display Caroline Moratti

thewanakasun.co.nz

Nico Porteous lands 1620

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow always brightens up Easter weekend, but this year there’s an extra special treat for aviation enthusiasts. Promised to be one of the biggest modern military displays ever at the world-famous event, Warbirds is set to display Royal New Zealand Air Force’s brand new transport aircraft, a C-130J-30 Super Hercules, thanks to the United States Air Force. The Super Hercules, who more than lives up to its name, will be on static display for the three-day event so visitors can talk to crew and check out its incredible interior. Warbirds Over Wānaka General Manager, Ed Taylor, says “It’s always great to have aircraft here for the first time. We will of course also have the current RNZAF Hercules displaying

Sports reporter

sports@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: ESPN Press Room

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in the Jeep Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle at X Games Aspen.

at Wānaka, so it’s going to be great for everyone to have the chance to compare.” However, for those playing spot-thedifference, you might struggle to notice any outward changes, with the biggest differences hiding in the new engine and flight deck. The RNZAF is set to obtain

five C-130J-30 Super Hercules over the next few years. The aircraft will also be accompanied by a four-ship F/A-18 Hornet Fighter jet display from the Royal Australian Air Force alongside a massive C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft from Hawaii.

Local freeskier Nico Porteous has finished fourth in the men’s Ski Superpipe on the final day of competition at X Games Aspen. Saving his best until last, Nico’s fourth run included a trick never before landed in competition, a double cork 1620. Using the new jam format introduced for the first time at this year’s X Games, the eight finalists had 30 minutes to take as many laps through the pipe as possible and were judged on their entire work rate across that time rather than individual top scoring runs. Porteous’s campaign got off to a tricky start with the binding

popping off his ski on the landing of his very first hit but he came back firing on his second run, gunning for the 1620 at the top of the superpipe but not quite sticking the landing. Sitting in seventh place coming into his third run, Nico landed rightside and leftside 1260s which bumped him up into fifth place with enough time on the clock for one final run. Sticking with an allor-nothing approach Porteous once again dug deep in the trick bag, made four and a half rotations through the air and this time stomped the landing, with the judges improving his ranking by one place.

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL PROPOSED DISTRICT PLAN - STAGE 3 & 3B - SUMMARY OF DECISIONS REQUESTED

Not sure whether you can make a further submission?

Queenstown Lakes District Council gives notice as of 30 January 2020 that a Summary of Decisions Requested and Web Mapping Application tool for the Proposed District Plan – Stage 3 & 3b is available for inspection.

This notice is pursuant to Clause 7 of the First Schedule to the Resource Management Act 1991.

Where can I get a copy? Please visit the QLDC website www.qldc.govt.nz/proposed-district-plan-stage-3 or www.qldc.govt.nz/proposeddistrict-plan-stage-3b to view the following: • • • • •

Summary of decisions requested Copies of submissions received Address list for persons who have made submissions Online form for making a further submission in the prescribed form Web Mapping application indicating land on which a submission has been made

A duty policy planner can help - just call Council on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka).

Amendment to the February 2020 Meeting Schedule Meeting Time Alteration: The meeting of the QLDC Planning & Strategy Committee – previously advertised as taking place on Thursday 5 February 2020 at 10.00am, is now scheduled to start at 1.00pm in the Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Meeting dates, times and venues are subject to change. All of the above meetings are open to the public. Some meetings may have items of business that will be discussed with the public excluded, as set out by the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Hard copies of the summary and original submissions can also be viewed at the following locations during business hours:

Mike Theelen CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Council Offices: (open 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday) • • •

Closure of Streets to Ordinary Vehicular Traffic

10 Gorge Road, Queenstown 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown Wānaka Service Centre, 47 Ardmore Street Wānaka

You can access the QLDC website www.qldc.govt.nz free of charge at the Public Libraries listed below: (please check www.codc-qldc.govt.nz for opening times) • • • • • • •

Queenstown Library: 10 Gorge Road Wānaka Library: Dunmore Street Arrowtown Library: 58 Buckingham Street Glenorchy Library: 13 Islay Street Kingston Library: 48 Kent Street Lake Hāwea Library: Myra Street Makarora Library: Rata Road

PURSUANT TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1974, notice is hereby given that the following road will be closed to ordinary vehicular traffic for the purpose of holding Challenge Wanaka 2020: Infrastructure build up and breakdown Roads to be Closed:

Ardmore Street from Dungarvon Street to McDougall Street

Period of Closure:

0800 Wednesday 12 February 2020 to1800 Sunday 16 February 2020

Infrastructure build up and dismantle at end of event Roads to be Closed: Dungarvon Street from Dunmore Street to Ardmore Street Period of Closure:

0300 Saturday 15 February 2020 to 0300 Sunday 16 February 2020

Who can make a further submission? The following persons may lodge a further submission:

Infrastructure build up and safe passage of athletes and dismantle at end of event

(a)

Any person representing a relevant aspect of the public interest; and

Roads to be Closed: Ardmore Street from Dungarvon Street to Lakeside Road

(b)

Any person that has an interest in an aspect of the stage 3 or 3B proposals greater than the public in general.

Period of Closure:

What can a further submission cover? Further submissions must be limited to matters in support of, or in opposition to, a matter raised in an original submission. How do I make a further submission? Make your further submission online at: www.qldc.govt.nz/proposed-district-plan-stage-3 or www.qldc.govt.nz/proposed-district-plan-stage-3b Alternatively written submissions may be made:

For safe passage of athletes and motorists Roads to be Closed: Single Lane closure of Mt Aspiring Road from Meadowstone Drive to Hospital Flat Period of Closure:

Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348, Attention: Proposed District Plan Further Submission

Via Email:

pdpsubmission@qldc.govt.nz (subject line: Proposed District Plan Further Submission)

0615 to 1200 Saturday 15 February 2020

(Note: access will be available for residents and tourism operators) For safe passage of athletes Roads to be Closed: Ardmore Street from McDougall Street to Meadowstone Drive Period of Closure:

By Post:

0300 Saturday 15 February 2020 to 0300 Sunday 16 February 2020

0615 to 1500 Saturday 15 February 2020

Roads to be Closed: Wanaka-Mt Aspiring Road from Old Station Road to Meadowstone Drive Period of Closure:

0615 to 1200 Saturday 15 February 2020

Roads to be Closed: McDougall Street from Brownston Street to Ardmore Street

Written submissions must follow Form 6 as prescribed by the Resource Management Act 1991. This form is available from the locations listed above. All further submissions must be received by the Council no later than 10 working days from the date of this notice being 17 February 2020. You must serve a copy of your further submission on the person(s) who made the original submission(s) that your further submission relates to, no later than 5 working days after providing Council with a copy.

Period of Closure:

0600 to 1500 Saturday 15 February 2020

Roads to be Closed: One way closure of Mt Barker Road closed to Eastbound traffic from Faulks Road to Wanaka-Luggate Highway Period of Closure:

0815 to 1500 Saturday 15 February 2020

It will be an offence under the above regulations for any person otherwise than under authority of an authorised permit to use the roads for ordinary vehicular traffic during the period of closure.

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

PAGE 12

THURSDAY 30.01.20 - WEDNESDAY 05.02.20

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Views

thewanakasun.co.nz

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Road safety needs to be based on facts, not perception Like many in our community, I am deeply concerned about the horrific consequences of poor driving in our district that leads to accidents. I have been invited to take part in a public forum planned for Friday January 31 in Queenstown and have accepted on the basis that this is a positive discussion about making our roads safer and not simply trading “war stories” about folk in rental cars. I am greatly saddened at the recent death and injury on our roads suffered by members of our community and our visitors. The issue of foreign drivers has long been a passion for myself and my Council. I want to share that there is some very real progress being made. What I have learned is that the issues are complex. I know from the police, NZTA, and various sources, the causes are variable. I also know there is a sense that international drivers are the reason for these terrible events. I accept there is deep-seated frustration that our visitors are taking to our roads in rental vehicles, sometimes ill-equipped for the environment and potentially illadvised by the various rental companies. Yes, it is an enormous issue but not the only issue we need to address, including the way we drive. Our own growth in population by its very nature brings with it more cars on the roads. We need to consider our own actions behind the wheel and how we behave towards other drivers – whether they’re your neighbours or visitors to the district. I welcome community discussion about this concerning issue. Our community is justifiably frustrated but we need to address the problem based on facts and not perception. I can’t condone criticism based on race or ethnicity. I do favour positive, urgent action aimed at implementing preventative measures. The accident two weeks ago was the subject of a police investigation and has been heard in court. I understand the accused has pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving causing death and two charges of careless driving causing injury. This is a tragic event that has changed the lives of everyone involved. I am aware of the consternation this accident has caused throughout the community, and I completely understand and share people's concern around public safety. I was concerned to learn of the experiences of a Queenstown person who drove a sign written rental car to Christchurch recently. Despite following all the road rules, he was the victim of abusive gestures several times during the journey, simply because some people concluded he was a visitor. That does nothing to help the situation and gives a very unwelcoming, and possibly intimidating, impression of our country. For my part I am committed to the Visiting Drivers Project which is currently focused on Otago, Southland and the West Coast. It involves representatives of central and local government, including the NZTA and the police, and the tourism industry, including rental vehicle companies. Several safety improvements have been made under the project with more planned. This is where I intend to continue to focus my work in this area. Initiatives to date include educating travel agents overseas about driving in New Zealand so they can share this information with their customers; including driving information with visitor visas; showing driving videos on flights; ensuring rental vehicle companies and accommodation providers discuss safe driving with their customers and provide written and visual information; and attaching tags to rental vehicle steering wheels highlighting important safety messages. Physical work has included road widening in places; more rumble strips including on the centre line; arrows indicating the correct lane to drive in; "no passing" lines; barriers; signs and billboards. I believe the project group is making progress on improving safety. There is still a lot of work to do, but good initiatives are being implemented. This is an extremely important issue which I will continue to champion. Let’s also remember there is a lot of good work already in progress and ongoing to help improve safety on the road for all of us – both visitors and locals alike. The Council’s Speed Limit Bylaw review last year has identified a significant number of opportunities throughout the district to reduce speed limits around urban areas or high-risk roads which will begin to be implemented this year. We’re also looking to create more safe pull-off areas in visitor hot spots in partnership with NZTA which can ease some of the frustrations that can lead to risky overtaking manoeuvres. The increasingly popular $2 Orbus service has seen growing numbers of passengers and improvements to the service which continues to provide a viable alternative to visitors needing to drive around Queenstown. And I continue to champion a regular bus service for the Upper Clutha to offer the same benefit. I hope all of these initiatives, and a more tolerant approach, will continue to make the roads safer for all. Mayor Jim Boult Editor’s note: We have submitted an OIA request to the Police and the Ministry of Justice to ascertain the statistics behind speeding, reckless and careless driving – how many are locals and how many are visitors. Area Response Manager for Wānaka Police, Miriam Reddington said, “I would hate to put you wrong by saying one group was more responsible for crashes than another group.”

THE WĀNAKA SUN