10 - 16 Jan 2019 | Edition 904

Restricted fire season

INSIDE THIS WEEK Jobs: Page 8 Views: Page 9 Sport: Page 12

Too hot for fires.

PAGE 3

Support for sports clubs Tiny Carruthers is the region’s new community sport advisor.

PAGE 12

thewanakasun.co.nz

THUR 10.01.19 - WED 16.01.19

DELIVERED AND FREE

EDITION 904

Freedom camping hubs proving successful

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

T

he stats are in and the free hubs and overnight campsites provided by Queenstown Lakes District Council have proven to be successful. Rebecca Pitts from QLDC says that 3000 vehicles have used the Ballantyne Road Service Hub and approximately 1500 have used the overnight camping site at Red Bridge since they went live.

Rebecca also reports, “Our Responsible Camping Ambassadors have been out and about across the district monitoring and educating campers – they’re reporting that there is less waste at key hotspots, more recycling coming into the service hubs, more campers wanting to upgrade to self-

contained vehicles and generally campers have been responsive and grateful for the advice and educational material they’re providing. It’s a step in the right direction and we’re certainly noticing an improvement on last summer.”

For residents by Luggate’s Red Bridge, Tom and Shelley Hilton – whose front gate is almost directly opposite the free overnight site – there have been no problems to report in regards to noise, rubbish or traffic.

“The only concern we have is seeing campers crossing the Red Bridge on foot to swim on the other side of the river,” says Shelley Hilton. “It can get a bit hairy with passing traffic.”

But the issue of toilets and public defecation is by no means over. Jude Battson of the Hawea Community Association says

the free services from council have helped, but not solved, the problem.

“When people are camping near the foreshore and have ‘to toilet’, they don’t have time to drive elsewhere often so will continue to contaminate our environment,” Battson says.

“The Isthmus Peak track portaloo toilet located on the state highway is funded jointly by the Hawea Community Association and Isthmus Peak Station and takes about ten days to get full. A number of the users are passerbys as are the users of the QLDC-funded norski toilet at Craig Burn. Both these toilets go some way, I think, for there to be less defecating near our Lake Hawea foreshore.”

“I met with Wanaka Department of Conservation officials who believe there

is a good case for DOC to fund a toilet at the bottom and top of Isthmus Peak track. [Current] funding should last until approximately March,” says Battson.

Like many people involved in the issue of freedom camping and surrounding infrastructure, Battson is in favour of a tourist tax collected at port of entry to help contribute to required facilities. Whilst the hubs are free to tourists, they are not free to council, which uses funding received from the government’s Tourism Facilities Development Fund for the service.

Ultimately it’s local residents who notice the small things and are affected by disrespectful behaviour. If you would like your say on how freedom camping has gone this summer, head to our Facebook page and join the discussion.

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On the trail of lost property Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Facebook

Paraglider airlifted to hospital STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

A paraglider was airlifted to Lakes District Hospital on Tuesday, January 8, after landing heavily in an area close to Treble Cone skifield.

St John attended the incident at 11.37am and treated the patient, who was described as being in a serious condition.

Save

Lost keys? Mislaid wallet? Bike done a scarper?

Chances are the item you’re looking for is at the Wanaka Police Station.

The huge swell of visitors over the last month has meant the local police station is full to the brim of lost items. There are boxes of keys, bank cards, sunglasses, and phones sitting in wait for their rightful owner.

Most items have a month to be reclaimed before they are either given to an op shop or destroyed.

The local police say that Facebook systems such as the Upper Clutha Trading Post are helpful for the location of items and means “we don’t have to do the leg work ourselves”. However over the summer season, most lost property is from tourists who don’t know the various Facebook groups and therefore rely on the police system to report and claim lost items.

“Wanaka is really great because people are honest,” say a police spokesperson,, commenting that many valuable items are regularly handed in.

One mystery still to be solved is the case of a men’s wedding ring which the finder posted on Upper Clutha Trading Post. “Hey Facebook world. I’m hoping to find the owner of this men’s wedding ring.

I found it in the Clutha River near the Albert Town end of the Outlet track in Wanaka. It’s engraved with the name MYRTHA and a date. If it’s yours you’ll know the date. I’m in Wanaka [until January 3]. If not claimed I’ll drop it in at the local police.”

If anyone knows a ‘Myrtha’ it may pay to check to check whether they, or their husband, are missing any jewellery.

Pictured: Ring found in the Clutha River.

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Cyclist viciously attacked by dog on Clyde track Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

On December 27 a man holidaying in Clyde was attacked by a dog while he was cycling on the ClydeAlexandra river track. This was a serious attack and the man received 15 stitches and spent two nights in hospital. The dog is thought to be a young Rottweiler Cross-type breed. The couple walking the dog were very apologetic and assisted where they could. The incident was not reported at the time, and the names of the dog’s owners, who may be holiday makers, are not known. It is reported that the man walking the dog may have had a Scottish accent and a ginger beard.

The Central Otago District Council put out an appeal to find the dog and its owners but has so far been unsuccessful. Louise van der Voort, Executive Manager Planning and Environment for Central Otago District Council says, “We haven’t been able to identify the owner of the dog so we’ve been unable to take

any action. If we were to know, we would then investigate and determine the required course of action under the Dog Control Act and our own bylaws.”

The options available to council depend on the dog’s history and the owner’s understanding of their responsibility. The likelihood is that the dog could be classed as dangerous and therefore liable to be muzzled, neutered and fenced.

Council bylaw states that any complaints of dog attacks causing serious injury will be referred to the Police as a criminal matter, however, Police have stated that they have not received any complaint in regards to this attack yet.

The Central Otago District Council is requesting that the dog’s owner, or anyone who can provide further detail, please contact the Council as soon as possible (03 440 0056) to ensure the right measures are put in place to prevent another incident.

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Emergency alert test reaches 60% Ruth Blunt

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Six out of ten New Zealanders received a text during a Civil Defence emergency alert test carried out in November, just ten percent short of critical mass.

Minister of Civil Defence Hon Kris Faafoi made the announcement on Friday, January 4, saying 60 percent received the test alert, with the reach rising to seven out of ten people (69 percent) receiving the alert when it includes those who didn’t receive the alert but were near somebody who did. In 2017, the test reached 34 percent.

Faafoi said, “We know from international experience that once you hit about 70 percent penetration, a critical mass is achieved in which you generate word of mouth that quickly spreads to just about everyone. We expected it to take about three years to reach that figure, so I am pleased we’re on track to exceed that because it is another step to keeping people safe.”

Chris Hawker, the Director of Emergency Management Otago, said EMO carried out an informal survey among 364 of its community contacts, which gave even higher results (75 percent overall and 80 percent for Upper Clutha).

“But it’s not statistically valid due to the small size of the sample and also the targeted selection method. We are comfortable that the national result of 60 percent will be valid for Otago, including the Upper Clutha,” Hawker added.

“We also found a wide range of phone makes and models received the alerts, including a variety of models of Samsung, iPhone, Motorola, Huawei and

Huawei Lite.”

The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management is working with manufacturers and vendors to address some of the issues with how different handsets behave.

“Emergency Management Otago (EMO) is very pleased to have the emergency mobile alert system available as another means of warning our communities about sudden onset emergencies. Our staff have been trained to use the alerting system where there is a direct and immediate threat, anywhere in Otago,” Hawker said.

“We know that not everyone can receive these alerts – it is one of several ways that we can get information to people during emergencies, and we will use all of them.”

Other channels, including radio, social media and news media, will also be used to reach as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.

“It’s also very important that people share warnings with family and those around them, to spread the word quickly,” Hawker said.

He encouraged every family to make their own emergency plans, so that when the unexpected happens everyone knows what to do.

“Many communities in the Queenstown Lakes District also already have Community Response Plans in place – these include Lake Hawea / Hawea Flat and Makarora – and the Wanaka plan is well advanced.”

The completed plans are being delivered to every household, and can be found on EMO’s website (www.otagocdem.govt.nz), along with useful information about how to prepare for emergencies.

Restricted fire season in force Ruth Blunt

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

A permit is required to light an open air fire in the Central and Queenstown Lakes zones as a restricted fire season is now in force.

The decision was made by Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) due to the elevated fire indices and the long range outlook which does not forecast enough rain to reduce the climbing indices in the medium to long term.

There is a year-round restricted fire season on all public conservation land.

Lighting a fire is riskier than normal during a restricted fire season and a fire permit must be obtained from FENZ before a fire is lit in open air.

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly light, or allow another person to light, a fire in open air without a fire permit, or not in accordance with the conditions of a fire permit, during a restricted PHOTO: wanaka sun fire season.

For a permit application go to firefighting crews worked for an hour to put out a fire in a converted shed on Camp Hill Road. Nobody www.otagoruralfire.org.nz/permits.

In the early hours of Wednesday, January 9, nine was injured in the blaze.

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Cleaning up our streets Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Cleaning up someone else’s vomit has to be one of the worst jobs around and this New Year’s celebration saw 13 piles of chunder in the town centre that had to be scrubbed clean by council custodians who wear overalls instead of capes. The team who were responsible for keeping Wanaka Town Centre clean did a remarkable job over the Christmas-New Year period. As the town sagged under the weight of tens of thousands of visitors, the town centre remained relatively spotless.

Adrian Hoddinott, QLDC Parks Delivery Team Leader says his team worked long hours doing the grunt work that not many people would put their hand up for.

Supervisor David Donald, with his team of Dan Robertson, Nick Perkins, Geraldo Alday and Alexander Castillejos started their New Year’s Day clean up at 6am to make the streets ready for bleary-eyed revellers to hit the streets for their morning caffeine.

The team reported an increase in broken glass but a decrease in rubbish and remarkably not a single human

‘deposit’ was found in the town centre.

This is a stark contrast to Queenstown where tourists relieve themselves in the heart of the CBD. “Defecation is a problem here in Queenstown as well, and the custodians have to deal with it regularly even in the town centre… not just on the tracks,” says Hoddinott.

The custodial team are also enjoying their new automated street sweeper which makes fast effective work of scrubbing the streets. Queenstown has been using one for many years but it was only recently that Wanaka received its own machine to take the manual labour out of scraping up someone else’s chewing gum or cigarette butt.

The machine and the custodial labour is all paid for by local ratepayers; some of whom will be thankful for the services rendered, others who will demand a tourist tax to pay for infrastructure and services - and so the debate on how to support the weight of tourism continues. But for now, it’s a high five to Wanaka’s custodians.

Pictured: Keeping Wanaka beautiful, local custodians Gerardo Alday, Daniel Robertson and David Donald.

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THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19

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UPPER CLUTHA LAKES TRUST

A new column that will look at the issues facing our waterways

Upper Clutha leads Catchment Management planning J Julie Perry

Secretary - Upper Clutha Lakes Trust

PHOTO: wanaka sun

Don’t spread freshwater pests Ruth Blunt

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

WANAKA

FINE ART

With an increased number of people using the region’s lakes, rivers and streams over the hot summer months, Otago Regional Council and the Ministry for Primary Industries are reminding residents and visitors to clean their equipment between waterways to avoid the spread of unwanted freshwater pests.

Freshwater pests such as invasive algae didymo, lake snow, and hornwort pose a serious threat to our waterways.

“Once in a waterway they can disperse rapidly and destroy the environmental, recreational and aesthetic values of our waterways,” ORC acting director environmental monitoring and operations, Peter Winder, said.

The South Island is a controlled area for didymo which makes it a legal requirement to clean all water gear before going from one body of water to another.

Anything that has made contact with water, including togs, fishing lines, footwear and boats should be cleaned for at least one minute with a five percent solution of biodegradable dishwashing solution.

Water absorbent materials such as lifejackets, wetsuits and boots require longer soaking times to allow thorough saturation.

“We ask people going between waterways to Check, Clean, Dry any equipment that has come into contact with river or lake water. Some freshwater pests, like didymo, are microscopic and can be spread by a single drop of water.

Even if you can’t see the danger you could be spreading it.”

Winder said before leaving a waterway, everyone should check their items for any weed or debris and leave it at the waterway they found it in.

Don’t wash plant material down any drain.

Drying will kill didymo, but even slightly moist items can harbour didymo and other microscopic pests for months. To ensure didymo cells are dead by drying, the item must be completely dry to the touch, inside and out, then left dry for at least another 48 hours before use.

Winder said, “Following these simple procedures will help slow freshwater pests like didymo from spreading throughout New Zealand waterways. It’s everyone’s responsibility to try to preserve the environmental integrity of our waterways for future generations.”

The government’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management (NPS-FM) aims to maintain all freshwater ecosystems in a healthy ecological state and restore those that are degraded. NPS-FM sets out 13 national values and uses for freshwater. Two of these are compulsory (1) Ecosystem health and (2) Public health and recreation. The 11 remaining values will be developed by each region, taking into consideration the values that are important to the community. Future freshwater management plans must also specifically consider Mãori water values and ensure that iwi/hapü play a key part as partners in freshwater-management planning-process.

Irrespective of the need to apply a national framework, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for freshwater management in New Zealand.

Even regionally, freshwater management quickly becomes a complex undertaking. Consider the variety of catchment areas within Otago’s five districts: Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago, Dunedin City, Clutha and Waitaki. The terrain ranges from tussock drylands to fertile plains, supporting commercial activities based around agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture.

Alpine peaks flow into glacier lakes and feed the fast-flowing rivers that provide the country’s hydroelectric power.

Otago’s rural and urban populations are

equivalent to less than 5 percent of New Zealand’s total population but are boosted by large numbers of visitors, particularly in Queenstown Lakes.

There is an increasing awareness of the water quality issues resulting from factors such as population growth, tourism, changing land use and economic development.

Upper Clutha residents place a high value on our natural environment and the Upper Clutha is well ahead of the rest of the Otago region when it comes to catchment management planning. The Upper Clutha Lakes Trust is working with a range of stakeholders, including ORC and QLDC, to develop a community-led Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Upper Clutha, with financial support from the Ministry for the Environment, Sargood Bequest, Million Metres and QLDC. Effective freshwater management for the long term will combine top-down regulation, community-inclusive decision-making and wide collaboration. Meaningful solutions will require some trade-offs and compromises. Determining what needs to be done and the best way forward would be greatly enhanced by increased investment in scientific research to support fact-based decision making.

Upper Clutha Lakes Trust welcomes all contributions to the Integrated Catchment Management Plan process.

Membership information is available on www. uppercluthalakestrust.org or contact secretary@ uppercluthalakestrust.org.

Otago Conservation Board applications open ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Do you have what a takes to work in conservation and represent your community? The Otago Conservation board is seeking new conservation board members after two current members’ terms are completed at the end of June.

Applications are now open until January 28 to become a board member and represent local public interest as well as advise Department of Conservation (DOC) and help protect local nature amongst the country’s 15 conservation boards within a defined geographical area.

Eleven collaborating members currently comprise the Otago Conservation Board (OCB). The OCB is independent, represents the community voice within DOC’s work, focuses on planning and strategic direction, advises DOC and the New Zealand Conservation Authority on local conservation matters all

while existing and operating according to statute. One of its biggest roles is overseeing the Otago Conservation Management Strategy implementation. The board’s boundaries also include Mount Aspiring National Park and the Catlins Conservation Park.

Anyone can apply to become a board member; required prerequisites include a passion for conservation, availability and energy to perform the job and to be identified as a good fit for your region’s conservation board.

The Minister of Conservation will look for an applicant’s diversity of experience and background, and a spread across the main geographical and ecological zones within a board’s area. The Minister of Conservation typically appoints a conservation board member for three years per term, which typically commence on July 1, and may nominate members for a second term.

Nominations may be submitted in writing via email or post by any person or organisation.

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Clyde is located in an area known as The Dunstan, which was named by an English surveyor, John Turnbull Thomson. He was the second white man to enter the region in the spring of 1857. It is believed he used the name Dunstan because the mountains reminded him of his birthplace in England where Dunstan means “a stone on the hill”. Thomson was probably inspired by the schist tors dominating the landscape.

Originally known as Upper Dunstan, Clyde, like many Central Otago towns and settlements, owes its existence to gold which was discovered in the region in 1861. Two miners, American-born Horatio Hartley and an Irish immigrant to the United States, Christopher Reilly, tried their luck near the entrance to the gorge where Clyde now lies. Their fabulous gold strike in 1862 started the Dunstan Gold Rush and within a year up to 40,000 miners were digging along the banks of the Clutha River, then known as the Molyneux . By the end of the first year, the field had yielded close to 2000kg of gold.

By about 1870 traditional mining methods at the Dunstan field came to an end and gold was extracted by sluicing and dredging companies (at one stage about 30 dredges operated on the Clutha River between Clyde and Alexandra).

Although Clyde began life as a “canvas” town, permanent structures started to appear within a few years when the occupants of tent sites were given the opportunity to buy the title to their land.

In May 1865, the post office officially adopted the name Clyde, after Lord Clyde, the Commander of the British forces during the Indian Mutiny.

A year later it was proclaimed a municipality after 61 people signed a petition calling for local government representation. The town was the administrative centre for the district until 1989 when it was relocated to Alexandra.

The construction of the Clyde Dam during the 1970s and 1980s had a major impact on the town.

Many new people came to live in the area and with the flooding of the Cromwell Gorge to fill the dam, the area lost one of its beautiful landscapes.

However the newly created Lake Dunstan is now a major recreational asset.

The modern town of Clyde could be described as a little town with a big heart. After the dam construction was finished, the population settled at just over 800 people although people living on the Earnscleugh Flats, Mutton town, and Springvale areas consider Clyde to be their home town.

Until fairly recently Clyde was a sleepy hollow, a popular place to retire to for many people from Otago and Southland. It came alive in summer when a huge influx of holidaymakers – up to 5000 – descended upon the town. Many of them owned land or holiday homes in the area. But that is changing.

The impact of the rapid economic development in Central Otago during the past two or three years has seen a significant increase in the price of land and houses, as well as large subdivisions and houses being built.

The major activities and industries in the district are pastoral farming, orcharding, viticulture, and hospitality

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Crimeline Cranfield D Darren Senior Constable, NZPD Welcome to Crimeline for 2019, hopefully everyone is off to a good start for the New Year.

As you will have noticed, town is very busy with the large injection of holidaymakers, boats, families and children. Given the population increase it is great to see that we have not had too many major incidents.

We have received the usual complaints for this time of year associated with drunken disorder, which is only attributed to a minority of folk who can’t control their behaviour after a couple of Fantas.

Damaged road signs seems to be the flavour of the month with approximately six pulled out on Wanaka-Mt Aspiring Road from McDougal Street to Studholme Road, one of these signs was used to smash five windows in a 4WD that was parked near the lake. Anderson Road suffered a similar incident with multiple signs damaged, and again two vehicles just parked up minding their own business received broken windows – we would love to catch up with whoever caused this damage so any information would be greatly appreciated.

Another parked vehicle was the victim of wilful damage, receiving a caved in bonnet after some delinquent jumped on it, and several umbrellas were

stolen from outside Alchemy Restaurant on 01/01/19.

Two bikes have been reported stolen over the past week, one from off a vehicle bike rack overnight. Remember to lock your bikes up – it’s a great deterrence. Opportunist thieves generally don’t like thinking too hard and a bike lock really confuses them.

We received three complaints relating to indecency/obscenities, with police making an arrest for one, the other two have been followed up and dealt with in the appropriate manner.

A male on active charges for burglary was arrested for not abiding by his curfew.

The office wall at the library was damaged when the driver accidently hit the gas pedal instead of the brake…whoops, but luckily nobody was injured.

Great news (almost) on the drink driving page, we have conducted numerous checkpoints over the last five days, stopping around 750 vehicles with only two drivers apprehended for Excess Breath Alcohol, this is a district focus over the summer months so keep up the good work.

Found property – such as Bikes, watches and a tailgate have been handed in. Report your lost items www.police.govt.nz, so we can return found items back to their owners.

Enjoy the sunshine and stay safe.

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DHBs in mediation with resident doctors STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) is engaging with District Health Boards this week.

The NZRDA, which represents the majority of resident medical officers in the country, issued a strike notice on January 1, but the mediation aims to find a resolution to the dispute over negotiation of the resident doctors’ collective agreement, which expired in February 2018.

“Despite a year of bargaining, the employers delayed tabling claims until September - nine months after bargaining began,” said Dr Courtney Brown, NZRDA national president. “And when they did table their claims, they sought numerous clawbacks to resident doctors’ terms and conditions of employment.”

Resident doctors are registered medical practitioners ranging from new graduates through to vocationally registered GPs and senior medical officers.

If the mediation does not generate agreement, strike action will proceed on January 15 and 16.

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Parking fines, and complaints, aplenty Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Some locals have noticed a sudden increase in parking fines that have been given out for seemingly petty reasons. A wheel on the berm is attracting an immediate fine of $40. But some feedback is angry that there are no other options for parking and what are local residents supposed to do? It’s a problem that’s symptomatic of a fast-growing town that hasn’t got the infrastructure to cope. Too many cars, no public transport, newly developed streets that are only one-lane wide; the social media complaints have been vociferous.

Just prior to Christmas, Queenstown Lakes District Council announced that to help with the parking congestion in Wanaka, “two ambassadors will be based on the waterfront to direct both campers and other vehicles to the correct locations and an additional warden will be in place for the Wanaka town centre to help keep things moving over the busy period.” It is likely that those extra resources have enabled more tickets to be issued.

There also seems to be some confusion that the money from parking fines lines the purse of QLDC and goes towards development in Queenstown.

Some social media users were angry, posting that the money from Wanaka parking fines should go to grading the Matukituki Road or creating passing lanes on the Crown Range rather than funding development in Queenstown. Wanaka Ward Councillor Quentin Smith clarifies that that simply isn’t true.

“For transport and roading, funding is all wardbased. Wanaka does not pay for Queenstown roads.

NZTA subsidise most roading projects 50 percent,” Smith posted in reply.

“The rest falls on Wanaka rates and development contributions but given there is very little development up the [Matukituki] valley it is primarily rates. As for grading, yes, we need to do

THE WANAKA SUN

PHOTO: wanaka sun archives

more. But we can’t just put a grader over it in these dry conditions without probably making it worse.

Maybe you need to lobby Eugenie Sage and Phil Twyford for proper funding to upgrade Mt Aspiring Road. We as ratepayers just could never be able to support 30km of sealing without massive rating burden.”

He goes on to note, “As for parking fine money it is peanuts really and doesn’t go much further than employing parking wardens. This is a classic case of how we as rate payers are called on to subsidise tourism. Maybe a bed tax would help with this?”

Whilst the fines may appear to be petty, they are the law; parking on a footpath or even mounting a wheel on a berm is illegal no matter the reason.

QLDC has previously said that on some streets, due to the nature of the kerb, residents have got into the habit of parking off the street.

“Unfortunately, this often completely blocks pedestrian access. It is also extremely dangerous, particularly when you have parents with prams and small children having to negotiate around a parked vehicle by stepping out onto the road, it’s actually a matter of common sense.”

Pictured: Parking on broken yellow line is a $60 fine.

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Sun News

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Make ONE change Make 2019 a sustainable one with the help of ONE New Zealand’s 52 Week Challenge. Launched this week, 52 is a series of weekly tips to help people towards a more sustainable future.

The challenged kicked off with a simple step to find your carbon baseline by calculating your carbon footprint. You can sign up for the challenge on the ONE New Zealand website and the weekly challenge

will be sent via email.

ONE, established by local women Arna Craig and Monique Kelly, aims to educate, inspire and enable communities to move towards a carbon zero future. It is also committed to increasing awareness of biosphere and environmental rights, and mainstreaming sustainability to foster thriving, diverse and interconnected environments, communities and businesses.

SPORTS RESULTS Please send sports results to sports@thewanakasun.co.nz by Tuesday at noon.

Results should be unformatted and presented in the body of the email.

Wanaka Progressive Bowls 4/1/19 Skips 1st I fletcher 2nd J Young 3rd G Hall Thirds 1st B Kane 2nd C Kiewiet 3rd D McLeay Leads 1st L Jennings 2nd B Thorburn 3rd M Parker.

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

Housekeeper/ Cleaner

TECHNICIAN WANTED

For Turn Overs in 2 self catering houses in Cardrona.

Immediate start - experience preferred. Need own car (we do not pay for travel). Hours 10 to 3pm and be flexible in the hours and days worked.

Newly refurbished houses – easy to clean. Linen washing outsourced. Please contact me on sprenter@gmail.com or call on +64 21 950 639

We require a reliable, trustworthy person in our local cleaning & restoration business.

They would need to live in the Wanaka area and have a current drivers licence.

We are looking for someone that has experience in carpet, upholstery and rug care. Also preferred someone who has worked in pest control and flood restoration.

Please apply with CV to ch2nz@xtra.co.nz

Store Supervisor - Wanaka

Aspiring artists should be in quick because registrations for Wanaka’s Autumn Art School opened on Tuesday and already three classes have filled up.

The Autumn Art school was set up in 1990 with the idea of bringing professional tutors and a variety of art subjects to what was a remote area back then, and provide artistic opportunities that would have otherwise been unavailable to local artists. It was such a success that this year they are marking their 30th anniversary.

Robin van Reenen, co-ordinator for the Autumn Art School, says that locals fill around two-thirds of the participants with the rest coming in from around New Zealand and even a few from Australia.

“This year we have 17 tutors and expect around 250 participants,” she says.

Whilst many of the classes are for professionals, or at least artists with natural talent and a basic level of experience, there is an introductory Painting and Drawing class for “rank amateurs” so those with an interest but have never unleashed their inner creative instinct are free to sign up and give it a go. Jewellery making also has classes for both professionals and absolute beginners.

Classes differ every year based on the availability of tutors and 2019 is offering a diverse array of subjects from Nature Journaling, Fly Tying and Glass Mosaics, to Singing, Screenwriting and Book Arts.

Autumn Art school runs from April 23-27 and is held at Mount Aspiring College. Registration is at www.autumnartschool.net.nz.

Pictured: The screenprinting class from 2018.

Soft plastic recycling scheme suspended

Simply New Zealand is looking for a passionate and driven retail enthusiast to step up into this exceptional position in one of New Zealand's most beautiful and iconic locations. The successful applicant will be responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the gift shop.

The position would be suitable for a well-organized person with a strong attention to detail. They must possess good leadership qualities, excellent communication skills with the ability to converse with both management and their team, a professional manner and enjoy interacting with both domestic and international guests.

Previous retail experience is a pre-requisite.

STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Love NZ Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, which recycles soft plastic bags and wrappers, has been put on hold this summer, with plans to resume a sustainable service in April.

In a statement released by The Packaging Forum, the group explained that they have been “extremely encouraged by Kiwis’ commitment to recycling their soft plastics” but changes to global recycling have meant that they are collecting more than they can currently process in New Zealand.

“A suspension to the service will give us time to work with existing processing partners to build capacity, as well as find new and innovative processing solutions.”

The role: • Managing a small team, driving sales, delivering excellent customer service • Executing excellent visual merchandising within the store • Coaching and developing the sales skills of your team • Excellent communication, interpersonal and people management skills • Passionate about retail.

• An ability to foster a fun and positive team culture with a “can do” attitude All applicants must have New Zealand residency or citizenship.

If you wish to be considered for the position please submit your CV and covering letter by email to Christchurch@simplynz.co.nz Attn Wendy Andrews

PHOTO: wanaka sun

Lunch: 11:30AM – 2:30PM • Dinner: 5PM – 9PM

The Material Girls I N S P I R E D I N T E R I O R D ES I G N

SUN TEAM

WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER – ISSUE 904

PAGE 8

Autumn art school open for registrations Emma Conyngham

EMPLOYMENT

Free delivery to Wanaka, Cromwell and surrounds, PO boxes in Makarora, Cromwell, Haast, Wanaka, Albert Town and Hawea.

Also distributed to businesses in the Wanaka business district Average circulation: 15,000 weekly.

Phone: 03 443 5252 • Fax: 03 443 5250 Editor: Ruth Blunt • editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Journalists: Emma Conyngham - newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz Allison McLean - journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz Advertising: 021 956 740 • adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz Admin: Benn Ashford • 021 956 740

admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Mail: PO Box 697, Wanaka

PHOTO: Julia Larkin

Deadlines: Display Advertising 4pm Friday prior to publication.

adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz

021 786 740 Classified Advertising 5pm Monday prior

Text: 0220 786 778

admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Subscriptions: $175 within NZ

(including GST) per year.

Overseas rates on request.

Remittances to

PO Box 697, Wanaka, NZ.

DINE IN, TAKEAWAY, DELIVERY 10% OFF Takeaways T&C applies

Chinese & NZ beers, local wines, BYO Groups, events, families welcome.

Tel: 03-443-1177 68 Ardmore Street

THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19

Come on in its inviting in here.

Sue and the team are bursting to share new ideas, fabrics, wallpaper and window coverings.

Our place or yours!

19 Cliff Wilson Street • 03 443 4604 Open 9.30am–5pm • Five Days.

Saturday appointments welcomed.

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Sun Views

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GREBE DIARY 11 January 6 2019

I guess the emphasis is to concentrate on the positives and leave the negatives for another day.

We presently have nine nests with eggs that have the possibility of fledgling chicks and an additional three that no one seems to own. Nests one and13 have a single egg each, and nest two has two eggs. There are no adult birds in attendance at these nests.

The following are estimated hatch dates and number of eggs: nest three, two eggs , January 17; nest four, four eggs, January 22; nest five, three eggs, January 26; nest seven, one egg, January 16; nest nine, three eggs, January 20; nest 10, two eggs, January 20; nest 11, four eggs, January 5; nest 12, two eggs, January 7; nest 14, one egg, January 28.

Nests five and 14 may yet add to their clutch, but the overwhelming impression of this year’s breeding season is that it is significantly later than usual with clutch size well down on previous years. The answer to what is going on could be understood if we knew why birds are laying on nests and then abandoning their efforts. This is not the first season we have recorded eggs being abandoned, but there are far more this year and later than previously recorded.

That brings me back to the problem of egg predation by black-backed gulls and how I thought we might discourage them from this behaviour. A friend provided me with some smallish white hen’s eggs and after drilling a small hole into the egg, I drained most of the contents and with these created a cocktail of yolk, albumen, chilli powder and cayenne pepper and put it into the egg, plugged the

PHOTO: John Darby

hole and placed the egg into nest five.

The following day I noticed a grebe on the nest and was mortified to think what would happen if the egg released its contents, contaminated the bird and put it off laying forever! Working on the theory that the bird, if it was intent on laying would do so the following day, I delayed kayaking out to it until the following day. Sure enough, there were now two eggs in the nest, BUT neither of them were my secret weapon. Clearly the gull had taken the egg within hours of me putting it into the nest.

It was suggested that rather than look for eggshell fragments to determine whether a gull had taken the egg or not that it might be better to look for a red-headed black-backed gull or scorch marks on the surrounding landscape.

Thank you for all the offers of divers, we have that covered now and will report on our findings next week.

– John Darby

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Removal of trees “a mockery”

Dear Editor, The action of cutting down the pine trees on Cemetery Road by land owner, Lane Hocking to make way for his unapproved special housing area has made a mockery of the Hawea community.

For the record, Wellington City Council voted against any further special housing area (SHA) developments noting primarily the harm that the HASHAA policy brings to a community. Harm stems from a lack of proper consultation and planning. Something that the Hawea community knows first hand.

Sponsored by

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To submit a letter for possible publication in the Wanaka Sun, please send it via email to editor@thewanakasun.co.nz.

Letters can also be sent by private message on our Facebook page.

Letters may be edited or abridged. Letters of no more than 300 words are preferred.

Both Auckland and Tauranga councils for much the same reasons as Wellington, are stopping the use of this legislation also.

The proposed SHA has not yet been approved by the Associate Minister for Housing, Jenny Salesa and the Hawea Community continues to collect evidence that SHAs are an entirely inappropriate tact for development of rural Hawea.

For those that may not be aware, the Hawea community has put energy into great future thinking for healthy growth in the community, which included the vision that the iconic habitat of mature trees on Cemetery Road form the basis for a green belt with all future township design incorporated into it and around it.

As documented in the Hawea 2020 plan, adopted by QLDC. Lane hocking is well aware of this intent, as he quoted the 2020 plan often in his Expression of Interest and was also told this at his community drop in sessions

back in March 2018.

What kind of future can our communities hope for, if these types of practices continue to be tolerated?

Carmen Howell KeepHaweaBeautiful - a community rights movement

Response from Lane Hocking, Universal Developments

There has been an enormous amount of planning and consultation go into the proposed SHA. That is supported by the 7-1 vote in favour of the project by the councillors in December.

I’m surprised anybody has an issue with pine trees being removed.

Savor the real taste of India at Bombay Palace.

Enjoy the Indian delicacies that will melt in your mouth.

Fully flavored curries, mouth watering kebabs and tandoori breads.

BOMBAY PALACE WANAKA BOMBAY PALACE WANAKA

Now Open Now Takeaway Available

We invite you to visit Bombay Palace Wanaka • for its incessant courteous service • for it’s affordable prices • for best lake view but most of all its enlightening experience upon your palate.

Delivery available through Wanafeed

03 428 4201 | www.bombaypalacewanaka.co.nz Level 1, 145 Ardmore Street, Wanaka (Formerly Alivate)

Bombay Palace we create a melting pot of Indian Cuisine, with

THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19 THE Palace WANAKA SUN At wefull create a melting potand of Indian Cuisine, with heBombay fantastic spices, flavored curries Kebabs & Breads the fantastic spices, flavored curries and Kebabs & Breads thatfull melt in your mouth. that melt in your mouth.

PAGE 9

Sun Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

TRADES AND SERVICES CHICKEN

PLUMBING

HOT CHICKEN & CHIPS

LAUNDRY

Serving Wanaka and Central Otago Regions

Redeem your New World FUELUP fuel discount vouchers or use your AA Smartfuel card.

Call for free no obligation quotes

Open 6am-11pm daily DRAINAGE

M: 021 709 918

NOW AVAILABLE AT CALTEX WANAKA

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Laundromat Shower LPG Brushless Carwash ATM Convenience store

GAS FITTING

W: www.gwplumbing.co.nz

HOMECARE PAVING

GW Logo Paths.indd 1

WHATS ON

10/26/2017 11:38:28 AM

Notice of the Luggate Community Association Annual General Meeting

Resin bound paving specialists

• Saturday, January 12, 2019, 11am Luggate Fire Station • The election of officers and the committee will take place at the AGM All of the Luggate community are invited to attend.

Apologies to: luggatecommunity@gmail.com

0800 70 8000

www.stonesetnz.co.nz

CARWASH *NEW* Brushless carwash

STORAGE

LAUNDROMAT LPG SHOWER ATM CONVENIENCE STORE CARWASH

Clean, dry, safe storage available now.

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

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION

SERVICES Wanaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy. We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open from 8am until 7pm every single day. Ph 443 8000.

MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY SUPPORT NUMBERS: Ring 111 if it is an emergency and ask for Police.

Mental Health Support Line 24/7 free call/tx 1737.

Southland Mental Health Emergency Services are on call 24/7 free call 0800 467 846 & 2 for Otago.

Central Lakes Community Mental Health Team and Child & Family Mental Health Services, open Mon-Fri (excl stats) 03 441 0010.

THANKS Thanks to everyone who comes to Wastebusters to donate goods, shop and recycle. Your support helps us work for zero waste and a resourceful community.

WANTED Wanted by the Salvation Army Family Store, if any one has any spare pillow cases we would love them, please just drop them into the store, thanks.

The Salvation Army Family store would like used glass spice jars with lids, to donate these please just pop them into the store in Brownston Street.

Volunteers required at The Salvation Army Family store if you have some free time and would like to be part of a team which makes a difference, come and see us.

Central Otago’s only CUBE bike stockist.

LOCAL DEALERS FOR THESE TOP QUALITY BIKE BRANDS SCOTT, AVANTI, NORCO, TRANSITION, BASSO, ROCKY MOUNTAIN, HAIBIKE Wanaka’s Pro Bike Shop.

We’re All About The Ride.

9 Cliff Wilson Street, Wanaka Ph: 03 443 2277, email: dougthebike@gmail.com

PAGE 10

THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun Sport

thewanakasun.co.nz

GRAB YOUR !

S T N E R A P D N A GR nd or neighbour)

(or an older frie

PHOTO: supplied

Locals enter the most insane rally on earth Emma Conyngham

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

On July 21, 2019, a few 22-year-old local lads will be embarking on a 20,000km journey from London to Mongolia in the most stupidly unsuitable car they can lay their hands on. Jonty Barton and his team mates are up for a challenge which is just as well as the rally they have entered promises that; “Your chances of being seriously injured or dying as a result of taking part are high. Individuals who have taken part in the past have been permanently disfigured, seriously disabled or lost their life.” The Mongol Rally is not for the fainthearted, at 16,000km across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia each summer.

There’s no backup, no support and no set route; just you, your fellow adventurists and a tiny 1000cc car you bought from a scrapyard for $17. Organisers urge participants to “bring the sh*ttest rolling turd of a car you can find. Use a car you swapped for a bag of crisps. Seek out a steed that most people wouldn’t even use for the weekly shop. The sort of car you can fix with gaffer tape and a hammer.” An overgrown sewing machine will suffice.

The adventure is about getting lost, using your wits, raising cash for charity and scraping into the

finish line with your “vehicle in tatters and a wild grin smeared across your grubby face.” Breaking down is completely unavoidable and getting lost is inevitable. Its tagline: If nothing goes wrong, everything has gone wrong.

Everyone partaking in the rally is required to raise at least $2000 for charity (£7.5 million has been raised for charity since the rally’s inaugural run).

In the lead up to the rally Jonty and his teammates will be raising money for Cool Earth and LandSAR Wanaka. Their goal is to raise a total of $5000, with half of the donations going to LandSAR, and half to Cool Earth. Cool Earth is a non-profit UK-based organisation that works to protect rainforests that without intervention will be destroyed; whilst LandSAR Wanaka is a volunteer group of local heroes and one of the busiest back-country search and rescue groups in New Zealand, which has provided an essential, selfless service to the Wanaka community and exist solely on the basis of grants and donations.

The boys are asking for donations to their givealittle page (search horse with no name Mongol Rally).

Pictured: Jonty Barton and his fellow intrepid journeyers.

Grandparents & Grandkids Activity Morning Wednesday 16 Jan, 9.00-11.00am Fun-filled sports & games for all ages | $5 for one older/younger pair plus $2 per extra person | Includes morning tea & all equipment Please register in advance for catering purposes MORE INFO & REGISTRATION T: 03 443 9334 E: wrc@qldc.govt.nz

41 Sir Tim Wallis Drive (off Ballantyne Rd) | W sportrec.qldc.govt.nz

NO SIGN UPS NO DOWNLOADS JUST NEWS thewanakasun.co.nz

FROM THESE BRANDS*

*

*

+ A HUGE RANGE OF DECORATING ACCESSORIES*!

28 Reece Crescent, Wanaka Ph 03 443 8176 Offer ends 21 January 2019. *Excludes Dulux trade brands, Berger Gold Label, spray equipment and spray accessories. Ask in-store for full details.

Discount instructions: Remove the scratch panel on the card provided to you at time of purchase, and reveal the discount that applies to the purchase you wish to make of qualifying products. Present this card with your payment.

Discount applies to retail products only at full retail price, and cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Excludes Dulux trade brands and trade purchases. Discounts can only be used on the purchase made at the time of issue. Non-transferable. Maximum discount of $500. Scratch cards that are mutilated , altered, printed incorrectly or not obtained through legitimate channels are void and will not be accepted. Dulux, Wash&Wear, Weathershield, X10, Cabot’s, Intergrain, Aquadeck, Ultradeck are registered trade marks of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty ltd. Berger, Jet Dry, AquaTread, and Everlast are registered trade marks of Berger Paints.

THE WANAKA SUN

THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19

PAGE 11

Sun Sport

Challenge confirms pro line up STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Challenge Wanaka has confirmed local triathlete Braden Currie, who finished second in Challenge Wanaka and achieved three topfive Ironman finishes in 2018, and three-time CW winner Dylan McNeice will line up for this year’s event. On-form American triathlete Andrew Starykowicz and Australian Matty Burton, who placed third at Ironman Western Australia in Busselton last month, are also named in the men’s pro field.

CW ambassador, Laura Siddall, will be back to compete for a fifth time. The three-time Ironman champion placed second in the full distance three years running, with another second placing last year when she took on the half distance for the first time. Joining her on the start line will be American Meredith Kessler who has won 21 half distance triathlons.

thewanakasun.co.nz

New local community sport advisor ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Kelvin “Tiny” Carruthers has been announced as the region’s new Sport Central community sport advisor. Sport Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) created the new role to support clubs with their needs, including quality and quantity of coaches, capability and increasing participation.

Carruthers will be based at the Wanaka Recreation Centre and will act as a community liaison and dedicated resource in the development of sports facility hubs in the Upper Clutha region. “The local clubs in the area are doing

a great job, but many are feeling pressure as the population grows, putting pressure on both volunteers and facilities. My role is to assist clubs in whatever they need. To this end, I want to run a series of forums in the new year and encourage all clubs to attend as, whatever the issues, cooperation and collaborations are the key to success.”

Carruthers previously worked as the Sports Clutha regional coordinator, working with the South Otago communities at individual-, club-, sports organisations- and school-level, as well as previously working as the Director of Sport at John McGlashan College in Dunedin.

“I’m very excited about living and working in paradise! I’ve spent a

month getting around and meeting many of people that drive sport in the Wanaka Basin. I’m enjoy the vibrant culture that exists here in Wanaka, some great personalities and a wonderful array of expertise in so many different sporting fields,” he said.

Wanaka Recreation Centre manager Jason Lawless said he is looking forward to working alongside Carruthers.

“Along with the responsibility for the coordination of the Regional Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy, Tiny will work to support PHOTO: supplied local clubs and connect them with key facilities to help them develop will help QLDC Sport and Recreation and grow. This has clear benefits for achieve its goal of getting more the Upper Clutha community and people, more active, more often.”

Racers Edge supports Red Bull Defiance STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

There are only nine days to go until some of the toughest adventure racers in the world will be sweating it out in the Red Bull Defiance here in Wanaka.

As racers prep themselves in the final countdown to race start, local store Racers Edge is pulling out all the stops to ensure all athletes have everything they need to compete.

The store will be supporting over 400 competitors with the huge array of clothing, equipment and safety gear that they must carry over the course.

“It’s not a race you do lightly and the teams generally come well prepared but there is always something competitors need to pick up, and last minute essential items,” says Racers Edge owner Charles Cochrane.

“Last year we assisted a number of international competitors who arrived without things like merino base layers, survival blankets and first aid kits which regardless of the weekend’s weather conditions are compulsory kit to carry throughout the event.”

The fifth edition of Red Bull Defiance is being held on January 19 and 20, finishing at Edgewater Resort.

PHOTO: Red Bull Defiance

THE HEIGHTS WANAKA

Over

90%

Priced from $425,000

sold!

Titles for Stage 1A now issued A project of UNIVERSAL DEVELOPMENTS

PAGE 12

THURSDAY 10.01.19 - WEDNESDAY 16.01.19

THE WANAKA SUN