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Learn how to fly
Dance Wanaka students (from left) Alex Mitchell, Stirling Deaton, Ella Maluschnig, Caitlin Gibson, Ellen Cagney, Laura MacCullogh and Dance Wanaka director and teacher Rachel Erichsen. PHOTO: Nadine Cagney Photography
Rest in fleece page 2
Charlotte Trundle The tenth anniversary of Dance Wanaka will be a bitter-sweet one for Rachel Erichsen, as the dance teacher says goodbye to her students and prepares to go to Denmark with her family
Knitsy’s sweet tooth page 3
for an extended period. “I am pretty sad but I am looking forward to something new. I wouldn’t be leaving if I didn’t know it was being left in capable hands,” Rachel said. Rachel lives and breathes dance. “The greatest reward as
a dance teacher is being able to offer dance to anyone,” she said. She has had many memorable momentsofteachinginWanaka but training senior students to become teachers was one of the highlights, she said. “It is great seeing them mature
through the training process and be able to do a job they love.” Dance Wanaka will hold an open studio for their tenth anniversary, on June 16, where students - past, present, or future - can come and celebrate.
No room for rowers? Sue Wards
Smother page 4
Apple for the teacher page 9
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There will be performances, memorabilia and information for the rest of the year. Rachel will continue to own and manage Dance Wanaka and also plans to focus on choreography and show productions in Denmark.
Members of the Wanaka Rowing Club are going from strength to strength in their sport, but are struggling to find a home for their boat shed. The young club has gained national titles and coaching accolades, but club members still have to carry their boats 500m from a shed at the showgrounds, across the road to the lake at 6am most days. This is the club’s eighth proposed site along Lake Wanaka’s shoreline and opposition is mounting to the site, near Stoney Creek (pictured). “This is an incredibly scenic part of Wanaka and it’s going to be completely ruined,” Tapley Paddock resident Peter Waters said. “We are very well organised and intend to be quite proactive in making sure this doesn’t happen.” He and neighbour Lyall Shearer have begun a campaign opposing the latest site, distributing 1000 leaflets and setting up a Facebook page. Lyall and his wife Gaynor own 59 Mt Aspiring Road, close to the proposed site. “I am a sporting person myself and I understand they should have facilities,”
The proposed site of the Rowing Club facilities, showing the neighbour’s boundary. PHOTO: supplied
Lyall said, but he believes the boat shed should go on the other side of the lake between the Yacht Club and Eely Point, away from residential areas. Lyall and Peter both believe it would set a precedent to have a shed built on the lakeshore near Stoney Creek. Gaynor said the fact their garden extends well beyond their legal boundary to the site of the proposed shed has no bearing on their opposition. The rowing club believes this is an
ideal site for their shed. “We completely understand that we have to work with what the community thinks,” club member Nic Blennerhasset said. “This is a beautiful part of the lake, but everywhere is. Where do we put it?” While there is space for a boat shed between the Yacht Club and Eely Point, Nic said that part of the lake is not suited to rowing because of a range of obstacles, including the rocks off Eely Point, the Yacht Club, marina, and boat
ramps where motor boats are launched. It is also more exposed to the wind and there is only a short rowing distance from Eely Point into town. Limited space also makes it hard to turn the boats, which are up to 18m long. “We need a long way we can row in reasonably calm water,” Nic said. The club, which was formed in 2007 and has about 45 active members, is focused on young rowers. Saasha Bruce, 18, said club members are hard working athletes who have never received a noise complaint. “Rowing builds character and discipline,” she said. “We’re head down, bum up.” The club’s proposed facilities include a meeting room, kitchen, gym, changing room and public toilets, and the club plans to provide changing rooms for regular swimmers and kayakers. The club will hold an open day at the site this Saturday from 10am to 2pm and club members will attend along with Wanaka Community Board members. Once public feedback has been received the council’s property services manager will recommend whether or not to grant a lease for the boat shed.