Wanaka Sun New Year edition

Infringements will be issued Apart from a complaint about a jet-skier driving in random circles in the swimming lane by Edgewater and some noisy “race-boats” in Roy’s Bay, all seems as it should be on the waterways. PAGE 2

Abuse at green waste site A mess at the Hawea Green Waste Centre has left the volunteer-run facility with a costly cleanup and unanswered questions. PAGE 3

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WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

inside: The two-day Rhythm and Alps music festival in the Cardrona valley kicked off on Monday. Story page 3.

Pontoon proves popular PAGE 2

2013 in review PAGES 5-10

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Pilot programme for polytech PAGE 12

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Mobile woes for Wanaka Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun

Dropped calls, stalled texts and no access to the web proved once again to be the bane of Wanaka-based mobile phone users over the New Year period. Last year, mobile customers were stymied when the Vodafone network failed to cope with high volumes of traffic both over the New Year and Easter holiday periods. The issue escalated to the point that it was covered on the Fair Go programme. This year it has been the Telecom network that has stumbled.

When contacted, Telecom technicians said there had been a loss of mobile service on the Wanaka exchange as of

11.02am on Monday, explaining that “customers may be unable to make and receive calls, including to 111.”

Three cell sites servicing Wanaka were experiencing drops in accessibility

problem until after 2pm, when an update was posted saying “some customers may be experiencing degraded mobile services … due to intermittent congestion on the

People couldn’t get through, and they’d leave a message, which we might get six hours later. By then it was too late to book a trip. and retainability, “probably related to congestion.”

The Network Status page on the Telecom website did not report the

mobile network.”

Frustrated customers turned to social media, reporting Telecom troubles on Facebook and Twitter including calls

cutting out and being unable to send texts. One Twitter user vented: “Yo @ TelecomNZ network in @lakewanaka_nz is in shutdown. Not good enough #gigatownwanaka.” He may have been tweeting in vain, however, as the Telecom Twitter feed stated on December 22 that the company was “taking a brief Twitter break over the holiday period.”

Meanwhile, a query on the Telecom NZ Facebook page about mobile phones not working elicited the following reply: “Have you tried turning them on and off again?”

Story continues page 3...

sunnews

Long lines all over town

New pontoon proves popular Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun Kids big and small are enjoying a new pontoon installed in the swimming area at the boat harbour in Lake Hawea. Guardians of Lake Hawea member John Taylor said the area was already one where “kids go to have a lot of fun” and that the prospect of a pontoon had been raised over the Christmas-New Year period last year. “We could see the potential for a water feature there,” he said.

The project was established with funding

from Queenstown Lakes District Council and completed with volunteer labour, and both the Guardians of Lake Hawea andtheHawea Community Association were involved.

Lake Hawea launch warden John Haggitt had donated his time to make up the attachments to the pontoon for the anchor chains, the chains themselves and the ladder.

The pontoon was one that had been previously located off Scott’s Beach, but “used to get trashed because of the weather,” John said. He added that the new location was very

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

safe and sheltered from lake conditions.

A pre-existing anchor on the shoreline was shifted and buried in the lake bed, and a diver attached a chain to the anchor to secure the pontoon.

John said the pontoon proved immediately popular, with people playing on it as soon as it was moved. He was pleased to see everyone enjoying themselves, and said the pontoon was a good example of the community identifying a need and working together to make Lake Hawea a better place.

PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Staff Reporter Wanaka Sun A steady stream of traffic, which flowed from Pembroke Park to the Lake Hawea turnoff, indicated the arrival of New Year revellers to town on Monday. It

seems most of the new arrivals headed straight to the supermarket.

Shoppers remained in good spirits despite lines that extended well down the aisles at the New World supermarket on Monday afternoon.

The usual holiday

shopping glut may have been augmented by an influx of Rhythm and Alps festival goers, including 5000 campers, stocking up before heading to the site. One shopper said he’d waited 30 minutes to get to the

checkout, but staff were doing great job managing the queues.

Another remarked on the festive contents of other customers’ carts. “I just saw three guys with six crates of Speight’s and 30 eggs,” she said.

Watch valuables police ask A rash of late-night car break-ins over the past weekend, resulting in smashed windows, and “general theft” with wallets and other valuables stolen has police requesting people take care over the holiday period.

“People tend to drop their guard on holiday,” Sergeant Simon Paget said.

Seven incidents of theft were reported with break-ins at Lake View Holiday Park, Little Oak Common, Bills Way and along the lake shore.

He said offenders were looking for cash and asked that people take their valuables with them or not leave them in view.

Police were requesting that any suspicious activity be reported to them immediately.

Behaviour leading up to New Year’s Eve had been good considering the large influx of people in the town, Simon said. No positive alcohol breath tests had been returned with testing done around the Wanaka area and on the Cardrona Valley Road outside the Rhythm and Alps festival and only three arrests in Wanaka just prior to New Year’s Eve, with two males fighting and one charge of disorderly behaviour.

“Things have been really good so far,” Simon said.

First Crossings up Aspiring Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun A re-enactment of the first ascent of Mount Aspiring/ Tititea, complete with hobnailed boots

and woollen trousers, was filmed just before Christmas to make up part of the next television series of First Crossings.

Presenters Kevin Biggar and Jamie

Fitzgerald kitted up on the banks of the Matukituki River more than a hundred years after major Bernard Head, Jack Clarke and Alec Graham successfully climbed

the West Face route on November 23, 1909.

Background footage of the area from the river for the episode was filmed using local jetboat operator Brent Pihama.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Infringements will be issued Apart from a complaint about a jet-skier driving in random circles in the swimming lane by Edgewater and some noisy “race-boats” in Roy’s Bay, all seems as it should be on the waterways.

“Behaviour has been pretty good considering the numbers around,” QLDC harbourmaster Marty Black said.

A tree causing a hazard which trapped a kayaker last week on the Hawea River by Horseshoe Bend had been removed as had some branches downstream of the Albert Town Bridge which had the potential to trap people jumping into the water, he said.

Marty said wardens “could and will” issue infringements on boats which exceeded noise levels of 77dba near to shore.

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sunnews

Fine times at Rhythm and Alps Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun It didn’t look promising for Rhythm and Alps festival-goers on Monday morning. A deluge early in the day saw Mitre 10 sell out of gumboots and ponchos, as well as experience a run on rubbish bags as customers headed for the music festival snapped them up to make DIY raincoats.

By afternoon, however, the clouds had parted. Fine conditions greeted the 9500 ticket holders for the sold-out event as they poured onto the site at Robrosa Station in the Cardrona Valley to enjoy two days of big-name performers including David Dallas, P-Money, @Peace, Shapeshifter, High Contrast, The Veils, Cairo Knife Fight and Tahuna Breaks, as well as local musicians such as The Nomad, Civilian Sol and C:She. The mood was jovial and relaxed as the crowd checked out the food stalls (one highlight was

PHOTO: LAURA WILLIAMSON

the Hungarian deep-fried bread), workshops in hula hooping and pole dancing, and the two stages, the Alpine Arena and Where The Wild Things Are. Police were happy with the crowd as day two of the festival got under way, with no arrests reported as of Tuesday morning. “Long may it continue,” Sergeant Simon Paget said. The only grumbles

came from bus patrons who had a long late-night wait to get back to town.

This is the first year the Rhythm and Alps festival, formerly held in Methven, has been held in the Cardrona Valley. The festival has a 15-year consent from the Queenstown Lakes District Council to operate on the site.

Wanaka’s mobile woes ... Continued from page 1 Lee Eadie, co-owner of a local eco-adventure tour business, said the network failures were a “nightmare” for businesses during what was a busy time for tourism. She said she had experienced similar problems last year. “People couldn’t get through, and they’d leave a message, which we might get six hours later. By then it was too late to book a trip,” she said. She complained to Telecom,

who had responded promptly, apologised, and had given her a $130 refund, she said.

This year, however, she had reverted to the “old system” of sitting by the landline and using an answer phone, instead of diverting calls to the company’s mobile phones.

Quentin Smith, who runs a homebased business that includes social media work, switched from Vodafone to Telecom after pevious issues.

He said the problems, which included texts and

uploads to Instagram only going after two to three attempts and interrupted voice calls, were not nearly as bad as the Vodafone tribulations, but were still frustrating. “It’s the fact that it’s happening at all,” he said, adding that a spike in user numbers in holiday destinations such as Wanaka was anticipated every year. Quentin’s phone cut out several times while he was talking to the Wanaka Sun on Tuesday and the call was completely dropped once.

Abuse at green waste site Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun A mess at the Hawea Green Waste Centre has left the volunteer-run facility with a costly clean-up and unanswered questions.

Dennis Hughes, the green waste coordinator for the Hawea Community Association, said someone “mysteriously” came into the green waste site about two weeks ago and dumped eight to nine truckloads of predominantly hard fill.

He said it “looked like someone had scraped up the corner of a farm yard,” with the detritus

including clay, boulders, old dry pine branches and some pine stumps.

He said the debris had obviously been picked

greeted every customer and collected money. On other days, users obtained a key from Sailz in Hawea where they recorded their

It looked like someone had scraped up the corner of a farm yard. up mechanically, not just loaded onto a trailer by hand.

Dennis said there were two ways to access the Green Waste Centre. It was open every Saturday afternoon for two hours, during which time staff

name and contact details in a notebook and paid on an honesty system.

He added that he didn’t know how the individuals who left the hard fill got in. If they did have a key, there was no record of them collecting one from

Sailz. Dennis said they did have some evidence as to who may have dumped the debris, but he was “loathe to go accuse anyone.”

This was the first time in the 14 years since the depot had opened that something like this had happened, according to Dennis. He said it took four hours’ work for two men and two machines to clean up the mess.

All proceeds from the green waste facility go back into the community, funding projects such as playgrounds, public barbecues and lakeside beautification.

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sunnews

inbrief Giga race In the race to become the first the first town in the Southern hemisphere to access a one gigabit per second internet connection, Wanaka went into the new year with a considerable lead over second-placed rivals Oamaru.

As of New Year’s Eve #GigatownWanaka had 656,890 points, Oamaru had 317,116 points and Porirua, in third place, had 216,737. Holiday makers can help #GigatownWanaka increase its lead by posting their holiday snaps on the GigatownWanaka Facebook page, or on Twitter or Instagram, with the #gigatownwanaka hashtag.

Winner Rodney Haley, the winner of last week’s double pass to the 2014 Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert is a big fan of the song Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The concert, on Saturday February 15, will feature 10cc, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Local artist Jody Direen opening the show followed by 10cc at 1pm, Starship at 3pm and Lynyrd Skynyrd at 5pm.

First place for second hand design Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun A young fashion designer from Wanaka has won the Best Junior Entry prize in the nationwide Salvation Army Family Store Project Redesign Competition.

Ashleigh Cram, 14, won with her design for an Aotearoathemed black evening dress.

“We had to get everything from the Salvation Army store, and make something with a Kiwiana theme,” Ashleigh said.

Ashleigh’s dress features paua shell detailing on the belt, a set of poi, and New Zealand iconography around the hem.

It took her all of the twoweek October school holidays to complete the dress, for which she joined together a top and skirt from the Wanaka

Family Store. The paua shell on her belt was a hair clip, and she cut the handles from a woven bag to make shoulder straps. She hand-sewed the Kiwi-themed designs on, including a gumboot, a sheep, an ice cream cone, a butterfly, a kiwi and Maori designs such as a koru.

She won $50 for coming first, money she said she spent on a fashion book and Christmas presents for her family.

Ashleigh is a keen fashion designer, and plans to enter the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards in Gore next year in the Nightlife section with a red carpet gown featuring a feathered skirt. She said she admires classic designers such as Coco Chanel and Christian Dior and hopes to work in fashion when she grows up.

PHOTO: JOHN FOSTER

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2013 inreview

July

Snow and Aussies bring big numbers Ski area numbers were well ahead of 2012 figures with good snow, increased flights into Queenstown and less overlap between New Zealand and Australian school holidays, operators said. Australian holidaymakers arriving in Christchurch and Queenstown in June were up 23.7 percent from the same time the previous year according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Hearts break for Hellebrekers

Locals design signs

The tributes flowed for Paul Hellebrekers at a function farewelling him from the Department of Conservation. Paul’s job as Wanaka Area Manager was dis-established in a nationwide department restructure and his 33-year career ended on July 19. “A couple of months ago I went public with my thoughts [on the restructuring] and was told it was a career ending decision,” Paul said. “But the support I got from all around the country was incredible. It was a key moment in my career.”

Two new entrance signs were unveiled: one on the side of Cardrona Valley Road and the other on State Highway 6. The design team included representatives from the organisations which helped fund the project (including Wanaka Residents Association, Rotary, Lions, Lake Wanaka Tourism and QLDC) and the work was carried out by Morgan Engineering and Rhinoz Stone Masonry.

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PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Perfect storm caused bedlam A large traffic jam, caused by a fast moving blizzard on the Crown Range and the closure of the Kawarau Gorge due to a rockfall, was described by one professional transport operator as “bedlam” and by the QLDC as “the perfect storm”.

QLDC transport manager Denis Mander said the combination of a rockfall closing the Kawarau Gorge Road with traffic diverted over the Crown Range and the fast moving storm creating icy conditions hindered the ability of contractors to access the area.

Team effort finds boy More than 25 people were involved in an overnight search for missing 11-year-old boy Eamon Smith. Eamon disappeared from his father’s workshop near the Red Bridge in Luggate at 3.15pm on Saturday and was found cold and hungry, but otherwise fine, at 9.30am the next day. Wanaka Police SAR Incident Controller Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said the successful search was a good example of the community and the media all helping and working together.

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August

2013 inreview SAR success Missing Hawaiian skier Toby Kravet was found outside the Treble Cone ski area during an aerial search by Aspiring Helicopters and manned by Land SAR members. He was flown to Wanaka Medical Centre. Toby suffered two broken legs when he skied into a snow drift in poor visibility, but he had kept himself warm and awake all night in sub-zero temperatures managing to ward off hypothermia.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Road crossing revisited PHOTO: RUTH BOLGER

Fourth time down for old boat An old cabin cruiser described as having “a bit of a chequered history” by harbourmaster Marty Black was retrieved from Lake Wanaka after sinking to a depth of 13m onto the lakebed. He estimated it is the fourth time ‘Alice,’ a 30 foot double-ender, had sunk at its mooring.

Saying I do

A rear-end collision when a vehicle stopped on Ardmore Street to allow a pedestrian to cross a ‘courtesy crossing’ re-opened the debate on the structures.

The concern from several correspondents is that out-of-town visitors would view the design and the use of coloured tiles as an indication the structures were officially pedestrian crossings and a serious injury or fatality could occur.

A police crime scene comment following the incident suggested vehicles should not stop for pedestrians which also prompted comments from some Wanaka residents.

Number 102 for Mavis Wanaka’s Mavis Walker turned 102 surrounded by friends and four generations of family. Flowers and gifts from well-wishers and correspondence from the Queen and prime minister John Key also reaffirmed her position as Elmslie House’s most senior resident.

Wanaka couple Kate Bariletti and Jan Janata said “I do” at the Alexandra Courthouse on August 19, the day the Marriage Amendment Act came into effect, and almost two decades after they got engaged. They were one of 31 same-sex couples across New Zealand to get married that day, and the first in Central Otago.

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2013 inreview

September

Breakaway proposal Farm visit Children from Hawea Kindergarten visited West Wanaka Station to learn about what happens in springtime and to see their two new hens. “It’s good for the children to see where the hens come from,” their teacher Ros Gould said.

The children were studying the life cycle of hens and the farm visit included a look inside the grading room where eggs are sorted for market. John McRae surprised them with a gift of half a dozen tiny pullet eggs for each child to take home.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Police spread out Wanaka’s 15 sworn police officers moved into the new police station which is almost three times larger than the 40-year-old wooden house which was their previous station. The open plan office area with extensive views to the outside took a bit of getting used to after the small rooms in the old Helwick Street station Constable Peter Reed (pictured) said.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

A group of Wanaka residents, calling itself Project Forward, wanted the ward to break away from Queenstown and become a separate district, saying competing resort towns should not share the same council. PF said preliminary research showed Wanaka could go it alone without a significant rates rise but most of the Wanaka council and community board members believed the group was wrong about that, and did not support the proposal.

‘Idiots’ tangle tractor at rodeo Overnight vandalism at the rodeo grounds in Albert Town angered members following the large volunteer effort required to create the new venue. The offenders climbed the deer fence on the perimeter of the property and attempted to make off with a tractor. They drove through the wire fence entangling the tractor’s axle and breaking the hydraulic hoses, exhaust pipe, levers and a fence post. Four posts were pulled out, 30m of wire netting fence ruined and the fuel tank was emptied of diesel and stolen.

Top shooter from MAC

PHOTO: WANAKA SUN

Mount Aspiring College student Ben Robertson (pictured) was the top marksman at the intercollegiate shoot. Hosted by the Wanaka Gun Club, the event had 59 competitors from as far away as north Canterbury.

Ben shot a 88/90 for the highest overall score.

PHOTO: ANDY WOODS

PHOTO: TIM BREWSTER

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October

2013 inreview

Entry level bike track Vincent Gerrard, 6, was pictured riding the area his father Carlos had shaped into a specialised entry level bike park for young riders. The track on the Hikuwai Reserve at the bottom of Gunn Road was funded with a private donation of $8000 for the project from the Wanaka Masonic Lodge.

Coastguard boat launched

PHOTO: TIM BREWSTER

Ian Rae honoured Lake Hawea resident Ian Rae (pictured) was made a Knight of the Order of St John, as sanctioned by the Queen. Ian had been with St John for 28 years. He worked full-time for 22 years as the Regional Chief Executive Officer for Otago and Southland.

Coastguard Wanaka Lakes unveiled its new 6.7m Naiad boat for rescue operations. Coastguard Southern regional manager, Cheryl Moffat, said the $40,000 boat had been modified to suit its purpose as a rescue vessel, including the addition of electronic equipment donated by Coastguard Dunedin. It was funded by grants from the Otago Community Trust, the Graham & Olive West Trust, the Lion Foundation, the Wanaka Rotary Club and the Lottery Grants Board.

PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Election results

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Food forest springs to life A public planting day was held at The Hawea Domain Food Forest. “We want to get some spring momentum into the project,” organiser Ben Elms said. People were encouraged to bring a plant to donate. Ben had a wish list of plants which included plants which the group’s research had shown would be particularly suited to the local conditions.

PHOTOS: WANAKA.TV

There were four new representatives following the local body elections.

Cinema Paradiso owner Calum MacLeod and Otago Polytechnic Centre for Sustainable Practise Research Manager Ella Lawton were appointed new Wanaka Ward councillors (pictured), and Rachel Brown and Ross McRobie new Wanaka Community Board members. Bryan Lloyd was voted back onto the WCB as was Mike O’Connor.

According to council statistics, 53 percent (3626) of people in the Wanaka Ward voted, compared to 41 percent in Queenstown/Wakatipu and 35 percent in Arrowtown.

Junior nationals More than 200 top young snowsports athletes in the country gathered at Cardrona Alpine Resort to compete for Junior National titles. Beau James Wells competed for the last time as a junior (pictured).

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

A century of service More than century of volunteer work from four local fire-fighters was acknowledged with Ralph Fegan, David Little, Gerald Haggart and Deane Weastell (pictured) given the service’s Gold Star award for 25 years of service, at the Wanaka, Luggate and Lake Hawea volunteer Fire Brigade annual honours presentation.

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PHOTO: RUTH BOLGER

November

2013 inreview

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Free-skiers’ Olympic hat-trick chance A Wanaka family could create Olympic history by competing in Sochi, Russia, in 2014. Freeskiers Jossi, 23, Byron, 21, and Beau-James Wells, 18, have all qualified for nation spots for the halfpipe event with Beau-James also qualifying in slopestyle.

The youngest of the four brothers, Jackson, 16, is an unlikely but possible addition to the team. There have been only three other instances of three siblings competing in the Olympics, none of which were in the winter event, and none of four.

Cup day fundraiser

Te Kakano wins supreme award

Local couple Jim and Ena Leckie hosted a Melbourne Cup fundraiser at their Wanaka home, raising $700 for the Upper Clutha Hospice Trust.

More than 60 people attended the event which included an entertaining best hat competition, and watching the Cup race. Hospice shop manager Bev Rudkin said the organisers were a pretty impressive couple. “It was a most beautiful night.”

Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust won the Supreme Award at the 2013 Trustpower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards in Queenstown.

Warbirds over Wanaka won the Heritage and Environment category; Wanaka Land SAR won the Health and Well Being category; Montessori Children House was the runner up in the Arts and Culture category; the Lake Hawea Community Centre Committee received a commendation in the Sport and Leisure award; Hannah Gerrard was the runner up in youth spirit category; and the Hawea Flat School Grans were runner up to winners Kahu Youth in the Education and Child/Youth Development category.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Christmas tree felled

McKay jetty conversation

An evergreen on Ardmore Street, which had been decorated as Wanaka’s Christmas tree for the last four years, was felled by council contractors Asplundh.

McKay jetty, near the yacht club, may be restored with some funding from a community group. Council staff estimated a makeover of the jetty could cost up to $40,000. Demolition and removal was estimated to cost between $5000 and $15,000.

PHOTO: WANAKA SUN

Social worker position gone Despite attending to up to 30 clients a month in need of help, Wanaka Community Networks’ social worker position had its funding cut by central government.

The 30-hour position shared by Jill Dore and Gaye Thompson was allocated $37,000 by the Ministry of Social Development community response fund which finished in August of this year.

Wanaka Community Networks manager Kate Murray said the decision was “hugely disappointing. We find it frustrating they put money into a community service and then withdraw it without any consideration. We’re getting busier, and our clients’ needs are getting more complex.”

Special Olympic equestrians Anna Freeman, Morgan James, Simon Scaife and Chloe Wigg were part of the local Riding for the Disabled group who attended the Special Olympics in Dunedin. Pictured are Chloe (riding Sprite, with volunteer Sharon Robertson), Anna (riding Punch, with volunteer Sally James), Simon (riding Beanie, with volunteer Carol Armstrong) and Morgan (riding Emerald, with volunteer Michelle Hemingway).

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

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2013 inreview

December

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Global film prize for Daisy Daisy Thor-Poet flew to Paris for three days as a finalist in the Panasonic Kid Witness News filmmaking competition. Then she won. Then she appeared on both Campbell Live and TV3’s Firstline. Then, she was the guest of honour at a special assembly at Mount Aspiring College, where she was greeted by a stirring full-school haka. Then she was whisked away to answer questions for the Wanaka Sun.

Steps towards saving water quality Water quality monitoring could soon be a reality for Lake Wanaka, and other lakes in the Upper Clutha catchment. The Guardians of Lake Wanaka (GLW) plan to get together with guardians of the other lakes (Hawea, Wakatipu and Hayes) to discuss a joint application for funding to collect data and research water quality in the lakes.

Aspiring dance performance About 70 students aged from three to 70 from Cromwell, Queenstown, Tarras and Makarora performed in Aspiring Ballet School’s end of year concert ‘Sophie and Alice’s Sleepover’.

They performed in a variety of dance styles, including ballet, jazz and contemporary.

PHOTO: WANAKA.TV

Fire in the flat The Lake Hawea Fire Brigade, along with a tanker from Luggate, attended a scrub fire in Hawea Flat. According to station officer Brent Arthur, the fire was on a property to the south east of Windmill Corner. It covered approximately 3000sqm and took an hour to extinguish. Brent said the flames came “extremely close” to some trees. “If the wind had picked up it would have been a different story,” he said.

Up in smoke The Wanaka Fire Brigade was called to extinguish this vehicle blaze.

According to Deputy Chief Fire Officer Garth Campbell, the cause of the fire was unknown, though it appeared to have started in the engine bay.

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National Park blaze A fire, believed to have originated on the East Matukituki track, near Hester Penny, destroyed 60 hectares of bush in Mount Aspiring National Park. Three helicopters armed with monsoon buckets attended the fire with ground crews also in attendance carrying out a detailed search to mop up remaining embers.

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sunnews

Pilot programme for polytechnic Staff Reporter Wanaka Sun

Young volunteers shine Staff Reporter Wanaka Sun About 180 volunteers in c l u di n g dri ver s , cubs, St John cadets, scouts and the emergency services (the fire brigades, the police and St John Ambulance Service) volunteered their time help out at the sixth annual Wanaka Sun Christmas Food Drive.

Pictured on the night were Wanaka Sun owner Aaron Heath joining volunteers in the #GigatownWanaka

van (below) and seven-year-olds Cobi Millar and Jackson Clark (above) with Community Constable Mike Thomas.

The Wanaka Sun Christmas Food Drive replenishes the community food bank which benefits people under the care of organisations such as Salvation Army, Presbyterian Support Church groups, Strengthening Families, the Cancer Society and Upper Clutha Women’s

Support.

Co-organiser Nikki Heath said she was really impressed with the number of young people involved. “It was really incredible, and such a great community feeling,” she said. “People just want to look out for each other in the community, to make Christmas a special time for everybody. It really fosters the idea of doing what you can to help people – which is what Christmas is all about.”

PHOTO: ROBYN MILLAR (ABOVE)

PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Ten Chilean horticulture students will take part in a joint pilot programme be tw e e n t he O tago Polytechnic and the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture. The students, some of whom won scholarships, are studying at the Cromwell campus of the Otago Polytechnic until April.

Horticulture and natural resources principal lecturer Alex Huffadine said the students already had good skills in horticulture and their main areas of learning would be management, health and safety and improving their English.

“So the students here will be taking in the whole ethos of how to look after people and manage them

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– they’ll be the strong messages they’ll be taking home with them,” Alex said.

He said the success of the programme was important to both

parties: The Chilean Government as it looked to diversify its economy and the polytechnic as it sought to grow its reputation as a place for international students to

study. Pictured, taking a break from their English class were Cristobal Levien, Daniel Campos, Debora Vasquez, Nicolas Giacomozzi and Nicolas Catalan.

Sam Hunt times three for Outspoken Laura Williamson Wanaka Sun Sam Hunt sometimes tells a story when introducing his poem ‘Old Flames’.

It involves Tarras. Some years ago he stopped in the township, he tells the audience, to pick up the “last mango in Tarras” (not true, he admits, it was a pound of butter).

He got to talking to a woman in the local shop, “the wonderful lady at the Tarras store in the white pinny. She had clear blue eyes, the same blue as the Otago sky that morning.”

The conversation turned to life, to its difficulties, to its sadness, and she offered a piece of wisdom.

“She looked at me, and she said I’ll tell you something: Some fires you can’t put out,” he explained. The poem ends with the lines “some fires / you can’t put out.”

“She gave me that poem,” he said.

This connection to, and expression of, the profound in the everyday is one of the things that has made Sam Hunt one

PHOTO: LAURA WILLAMSON

of New Zealand’s bestknown, and best-loved, poets.

Wanaka audiences will have the chance to experience his work firsthand when he performs three shows in the Wanaka area this January as part of the Outspoken Festival of Words & Storytelling. He’ll take the stage in Wanaka

on January 12 and 13, with a third performance to take place at the Carrick winery in Bannockburn on January 14.

Sam last appeared in Wanaka for a sold out show in the Luggate Hall in 2011, and he said he was looking forward to returning. “I have the happiest memories of

Luggate and I’m looking forward to being back down there. It’s country I’ve always enjoyed.”

Liz Breslin, artist liaison for the festival, said she was thrilled to have Sam opening the series. “Sam epitomises the tradition of the bards-telling the stories, telling them true.

His honesty has touched so many people. Most locals I’ve spoken to have some great Sam memories from their school days or his tours with Gary McCormick in the eighties,” she said.

Sam was awarded a QSM in 1986 and in 2010 was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to poetry.

Last year he received a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement.

He performed recently in Auckland with another Outspoken act, rapper and spoken word performer Tourettes, who will be appearing at the festival in February with 2012 New Zealand National Poetry Slam Champion Ali Jacs.

Grebe success A pair of nesting grebes on Lake Wanaka have had success with two of four eggs producing chicks. Local bird enthusiast John Darby said last week’s request in the Wanaka Sun for information on sightings of the birds had so far resulted in reports from Lakes Hawea, Dunstan, Alexandrina and Wakatipu.

PHOTOS: JOHN DARBY

PAGE 12

THURSDAY 02.01.14 - WEDNESDAY 08.01.14

sunviews

TXT MESSAGE

BOARD IN TOWN TODAY, A FEW THINGS FOR THE COPS TO NOTE: PEOPLE DRINKING IN CBD (THOUGHT THERE WAS A 24 HOUR LIQUOR BAN?), DUDE TRAVELLING ON THE ROOF ON A VAN, FORKLIFT DRIVING ON THE FOOTPATH. SILLY SEASON EH? TO THE GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE WHO WERE SO HELPFUL KIND AND CARING WHEN I HAD MY FALL IN FRANKTON 15 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE JUST HAD MY 3RD OP. A BONE GRAFT. THANK U AGAIN AS I HAVE LOST YOUR PH. NO. B. MCK. THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER; `DRUG EDUCATION`. GOOD TO BRINGS SOME SENSIBLE & RATIONAL THOUGHT TO THE ISSUES. AND THE AWARD FOR THE “IDIOT ON A JETSKI” GOES TO THE IDIOT ON A JETSKI WHO WAS USING THE SWIM LANE AS AN OBSTACLE COURSE. COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!! GREAT TO SEE HARBOURMASTER DEAL WITH IT. CYCLIST! YOU’RE RIGHT. WE ALL NEED TO SHARE THE ROAD BUT THIS IS GETTING SILLY. 3 ABREAST ON BLIND HIGHWAY CORNERS? COME ON! IT WAS WITH DISAPPOINTMENT AND COMPLETELY PERPLEXING THAT I COULD NOT FIND ONE SEAT ON THE LAKE FRONT IN WANAKA THAT WAS PLACED IN THE SHADE OF A TREE SO THAT ONE COULD ENJOY THE VIEW WITHOUT BEING FRIED BY THE SUN. COULD COUNCIL GET IT TOGETHER AND CATER FOR PROTECTION FROM THE SUN WHILST ENJOYING THE VIEW WITHOUT GETTING SUNSTROKE OR MELANOMA.

EDITORIAL Blustery weather and rain has done little to diminish the holiday crowd and spirit in Wanaka. And despite a larger than normal influx due to our new event up the valley, drunk drivers and other nasty doings seem to be at an all-time low. Tills are ringing up all over town, the roundabouts seem to be passing their first test at full capacity and for most, life is good.

The tag team act by our two major cellphone providers means this year Telecom users are at a disadvantage.

The list of reasons given would not be out of place in an episode of Yes Minister. Smartphone sales have exploded. People now use them for video uploads and other high data usage. Accessibility and retainability issues are caused by congestion.

No kidding. As the company that sells the phones and data packages, Telecom should be best placed to comment on the reasons why. What seems less forthcoming is what they are going to do about it.

Being sorry and telling clients there is no guarantee of supply doesn’t really cut it for a business missing out on communication during one of their busiest periods. Existing Wanaka cellphone users need a better commitment now from one of its largest telecommunications providers, instead of more PR spent on trying to get more customers.

But connected or not, have a Happy New Year.

write to the editor Let the community know your views, email your letter to: editor@thewanakasun.co.nz *200 words or less

HARD LUCK CALLUM, SHOULD HAVE STOOD FOR MAYOR. WE ALL WASTED OUR VOTES...

PREDICTION: WANAKA WILL GET THE EXPENSIVE SPORTS FACILITY QLDC WANTS, LETS HOPE THOSE WHO CONNED NELSON COUNCIL DO BETTER HERE. WHEN ARE DOC OR THE POLICE GOING TO GET RID OF THE HORRIBLE MAN AT BOUNDARY CREEK? I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE 3 MORE SEATS ON THE MOU WAHU TRACK 6 ISN’T ENOUGH

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT BOARD AND IN THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR ALONE AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE WANAKA SUN.

TXT THE WANAKA SUN

021 986 786 Issue 642 Thursday January 02, 2014 Free delivery to Wanaka, Wanaka surrounds and Cromwell urban and rural mailboxes, PO boxes in Makarora, Cromwell, Haast, Wanaka, Albert Town, Hawea. Distributed to motels, hotels and cafes plus businesses in the Wanaka central business district and to drop boxes in Wanaka and Cromwell.

Phone: 03 443 5252 Fax: 03 443 5250 Text view: 021 986 786 Text classified: 022 0786 778 Address: Upstairs Spencer House, Wanaka Postal: PO Box 697, Wanaka Editorial manager: Ruth Bolger editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Journalists: Tim Brewster journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz Caroline Harker newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz Production: Adam Hall production@thewanakasun.co.nz Advertising: Amanda Hodge advertising@thewanakasun.co.nz Jake Kilby marketing@thewanakasun.co.nz Accounts: admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Printed by: Guardian Print, Ashburton Delivered by: Wanaka Rowing Club Published by: Wanaka Sun (2003) Ltd Distribution: 7500

THURSDAY 02.01.14 - WEDNESDAY 08.01.14

PAGE 13

sunclassifieds employment

Classifieds body and mind

notice

ASPIRING MASSAGE WANAKA. Deep Tissue Relaxation. Trevor Bailey. Full time massage since 1994. Ph 4432993 or 0274222455. www.aspiringmassagewanaka.co.nz

LIFE STORIES writing and book design. Memoirs, histories, letters, diaries - transcribed and published. www. timeofyourlife.co.nz. Contact laura@timeofyourlife. co.nz or 443 4629.

DOREEN VIRTUE Certified Angel Intuitive in Wanaka.

Call Linda on 0211468041 to arrange a reading.

EXPERIENCED HOMEOPATH and Healer at Wanaka Wellness Centre. Visit www.intelligenthealth. com for details or call Linda on 0211468041 for an appointment.

MIDWIFE: WANAKA Midwives in the Wanaka Wellness centre. 03 443 1655 www.wanakamidwives.co.nz

HOT YOGA! Daily classes, all levels, different styles, drop in sessions welcome. Check hotyogafusion. co.nz ph/text 022HOTYOGA

employment VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help collect email addresses and promote #GigatownWanaka this summer. Email Gemma - gigatown.wanaka@gmail.com or Claire- claire@mtuptonlodge.co.nz to register.

for sale POULTRY WHEAT and barley 4 sale, whole or crushed.30kg 4 $25.. .. 021 251 5510/4434944.

WANAKA’S ORGANIC SKINCARE brand TRUE, is now available at Wonder room, Soulfood, Wholefood Haven & Organic Express.

CHICKENS 4 sale, 1 and half years old, brown shavers $10.00 each. Phone 034452644 0r 0273236974.

16HH TB Gelding for sale. Excellent to float, shoe and clip, beautiful temperament, inquisitive personality. He loves your company and needs a very special home.

Phone 0210 2939 300 for more info.

HAVE YOU heard of the Baking Fairy? Come to the craft market this Sunday and check out this local recipe book by Susan Manson HYDRATE, PROTECT and Nourish your skin with Natures Super-fruits, found in TRUE Organic skincare for face, body, mother & baby.

LAKE HAWEA section. Close to lake/shops/primary school, mountain views. Price negotiable, phone 4439310 or 021656655.

SGT DAN Poultry layer mash $25 for 25kg. 4434944 BEAUTIFUL CHINA tea cup bird feeders, great for attracting wax eyes and bell birds to your garden.

Make the perfect presents $25 ph 443 1017 or txt 021 680 110 GREAT BOOKS at the Sunday craft market this week, written and illustrated right here in wanaka, what a great gift!

lost CAN ANYBODY help, my son’s school bag went missing the second last week of school. It had his prescription reading glasses and PE uniform in it.

There was other things but these are the most important thanks

MOVING ON? Wanaka Wastebusters picks up donated goods for free, call 443-8606 to help us help our community and the environment. Resaleable condition only please.

NOTICE OF AGM: the Luggate Community Association AGM will be held on Saturday 11th January 2014 at 11am in the Luggate Hall. Open to all. A special warm welcome to all new residents.

employment

TURN YOUR unwanted items into cash!! Iroam4u will sell on your behalf on Trademe. We do the hard work u get paid. Items over $100 please. 0273236974, iroam4u@outlook.co.nz

rent 3BD+ HOUSE in Albert Town avail mid-Jan for long term rental on fully fenced section. Log fire, vege gardens, some furnishings. Ring 021 163 4936 after 5pm :) LARGE MODERN house to rent long term 5 bed, 3 bathroom near schools available late jan call Richard 021 2737797

services FOR ALL your sewing requirements. Personal or commercial. Quality prompt service. Please call to discuss.

Phone Sue. 0272472181 READY NOW for your BRICK, BLOCK, OR STONEWORK PH 021.1890036 or 443.1229 for your christmas tidy up , thanks.:-) SEWING SOLUTIONS, repairs and alterations. Helpful, friendly service. Pick up drop off available. Please phone Sue 0272472181

wanted SERIOUS BUYER looking to purchase three bedroom home by private sale, wanting to establish permanent living . Please phone 0276351690

employment

TWO BED apartment in Wanaka wanted to rent from February for father and two sons. Please call Antony on 022 6149192

what’s on TARRAS SCHOOL & Landrover club fundraiser. 4 WD trip, 11 Jan 2014, Lindis Pass-Duncan creek. $100 per vehicle. Ph Tui 4452631 or Nicky 4452007.

THERE ARE lots of artisans at the craft market this sunday, pottery, silk painting, toys, books and more.

Pembroke park from 10am WANAKA TENNIS Fulton Hogan Junior Open January 5-8. Spectators are welcome to support our up and coming players.

WANAKA TENNIS Gallaway Cook Allan Open Tournament January 2-4 at our Upton St courts.

Spectators welcome.

notice ACTION AUTOMOTIVE would like to wish all of our wonderful customers a happy New Year. We will be closed from 24th December opening again on 6th January.

CRESTED GREBE sighting? Please contact John Darby: johntedarby@gmail.com WANAKA WASTEBUSTERS has presents that don’t cost the earth. Gift table and vouchers. 9am-5pm every day except Christmas Day.

WANAKA TENNIS Quartz Reef Wines Senior 35+ Open. Men’s/Women’s doubles Thursday Jan 9, Mixed doubles Friday Jan 10. Entries close Jan 6.

THE SUNDAY Craft Market is on this week come on down to Pembroke Park, for great handmade N.Z arts and crafts.

For FREE listing text your advert to

02 20 786 778 20 word limit - deadline Tuesday 4pm standard network rates apply PAGE 14

THURSDAY 02.01.14 - WEDNESDAY 08.01.14

sunclassifieds employment

trades&services

sport results

PANELBEATING

TREE SERVICES

CURTAINS

TIMBER SUPPLIER

rent

WANAKA BOWLS RESULTS Friday Progressive 27:12:13 Skip 1st Coleen Landsborough 2nd Betty Russell 3rd Gordon McLachlan Third 1st Helen Green 2nd Trevor Tovey 3rd Don McLeay Lead 1st Iain Fletcher 2nd Charles Kiewiet 3rd Rick McLean

FREE colour & design

with all advertising Call 03 443 5252

THURSDAY 02.01.14 - WEDNESDAY 08.01.14

PAGE 15

Wild sprinters race in Cromwell

sunsport Hot day at the races

Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun

Spills and hard racing meant petrol-head heaven for a larger than expected crowd at the second annual “War of the Wings” sprint car event at Central Motor Speedway in Cromwell on Monday night.

The 25-lap feature sprint car event took more than 50 minutes to complete due to a high level of driver excitement resulting in “several rollovers” and crashes, promoter Jo Gaudion said.

“It was a great night.” Despite heavy rain earlier in the day an estimated 3000 spectators attended the event which included super saloons, saloons, stock cars, six-

Hot weather and a good turnout meant another successful day for the Hawea Picnic Races on Saturday. Organisers reported a “lovely family day” with a typically strong line-up of pacers and local riders. Club secretary Sharryn Kitto said numbers were similar to 2012 with takings of an estimated $4500 and other income from raffle sales enabling the club to cover costs and have money left over to donate to local groups. The club recently contributed $2000 to the Upper Clutha Hospice Trust.

PHOTO: JOHN FOSTER

shooters and sidecars.

The 21-car sprint event was won by Cromwell local Jason Scott heading off competitors

from Queenstown, Arrowtown and Te Anau. Daniel Anderson (pictured in #44) placed third in the feature event.

Tough field for tennis open Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun One of the strongest lineups yet awaits players and spectators for the Wanaka Tennis Open starting on January 2.

Numberoneseniormen’s seedRikiMacLauchlanfrom Queenstown is expected to have some serious competition from Alan Ambrose from Wellington and American-based South African Errol Nattrass. Club coach Perry Allen said Errol has an unusual style

playing with both hands on both sides and is currently ranked number one in New England. “I am third seed in the men’s singles, but will struggle against younger and fitter opponent [Riki] in the semis if I make it that far. I think Errol and I have a good chance to do well in the doubles.”

The women’s senior competition has a small field of eight players but will also be very competitive, Perry said.

“The final looks like it will be a spectacle with

last year’s runner-up and NZ Junior Federation Cup player Annabel Ellis from Timaru who is ranked 47 in NZ and Michaela Gordon visiting from the USA who is a junior ranked top 70 in the world and preparing for the Australian Open Juniors being the top two seeds.”

In the junior competition, local players Michael Gealogo, 11, Ines Stephani, 11, Olivia Ray, 13, Holly Gibson, 10 and Martha Toghill, 10, all have very realistic chances of winning their age groups, Perry

said. Others from Wanaka competing and hoping to do well will be Caitlin Gibson, 13, Morgan Allan, 14, Rory McLean,14,CedricStephani, 15 and Jake Nicholson, 13.

The senior open has 45 entries and finishes on Saturday. The junior tournament with 84 confirmed entries runs from January 5-8. The master’s event for players 35 years and over is on January 9-10 with entries closing on January 6.

See sunspots for details

Calm conditions for Clutha classic Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun Calm sunny weather ensured good racing conditions for this year’s 54km Clutha Classic kayak race from the Wanaka foreshore to the junction of the Lindis and Clutha River.

Based on handicap, 64 competitors were started in waves with Scott Smith taking line honours with a

PAGE 16

time of 3.07.35 (adjusted to 3.27.3). The 1994 Coast to Coast winner Keith Murray placed second in a time of 3.28.02 (3.02.02) and Wendy Riach was third in 3.29.29 (3.11.02).

WanakapaddlersJoWilliams and Jess Simson sped to fifth and seventh overall with times of 3.30.36 (3.12.36) and 3.31.52(3.13.52)respectively.

Ian Huntsman had the fastest time on the water in 2.52.01.

THIS WEEK AT FITZYS

Live music every night.

Free pool.

Delicious pizzas.

Real pints.

Great Craic. $10 pizzas every night till late Open from 4pm Monday - Sunday Want to play live or use the pub as a daytime rehearsal space? Pop in for a chat!

Come see us @ facebook.com/fitzpatrickswanaka Find us on the corner of Helwick Street and Brownston Street 57 Helwick st, Wanaka | 03 443 4537 | fitzpatrickswanaka@gmail.com

PHOTO: TIM BREWSTER

THURSDAY 02.01.14 - WEDNESDAY 08.01.14