25 April - 1 May 2019 | Edition 919

Bread tags for

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Recycling those pesky bits.

Sport: Page 11 Views: Page 13 Jobs: Page 15

Wheelchairs

PAGE 4

Dawn Parade

Phone: 03 443 8000 Top of Helwick St, Wanaka

An ANZAC short story

by Anni Docking.

opening hours: 8am To 7Pm • 7 DaYS

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EDITION 919

An aspiring ANZAC commemoration

PHOTOs: Wanaka Sun

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

M

any hands at Aspiring Village have brought life to a beautiful ANZAC commemoration. Over 500 poppies have been hand-knitted by 15 women at the village over recent months. The poppies have then been mounted onto a board, with three white crosses, to form an astounding

piece of art.

Toni Mason, activities coordinator for Aspiring Village, had the idea which was inspired by the 5000 poppies that were crocheted around the world for last year’s centenary. “Unfortunately we missed that last year and didn’t participate but we made up for it this year,” she said. “We now have something we can hang on the wall each year on ANZAC day.”

The knitted poppies are all stitched onto the backing board with small buttons, but one button in particular has special significance. Avis Munro gifted the button from her father’s WWI uniform to be used on the board—a touching tribute which was appreciated by all.

The group knitted too many poppies so the rest have been sold as commemorative pins to other village residents who will be

wearing them proudly today as the New Zealand Veterans Brass Band performs a private performance at the village. The band is in hot demand and Mason says “they are attending a number of public events around the area over the Anzac period, so we are quite lucky to have a private show for our residents!” Pictured: the knitting ladies group from Aspiring Village with Nige Sandri (maintenance person) who built the frame.

Extinction Rebellion: there is no planet B Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

E

arly yesterday morning, in the dark, cold blanket of fog that had descended on Wanaka, 25 eco warriors brought the Extinction Rebellion to Wanaka. The group staked their claim at the Wanaka tree as part of a global movement that is demanding an emergency, mass-scale response to the imminent extinction of life as it is known.

According to the Extinction Rebellion mandate, “Human activity is causing irreparable harm to the life on this world.

A mass extinction event, only the sixth in roughly 540 million years, is underway. Many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century.”

For local coordinator, Anna Simmonds, yesterday’s protest was nerve-wracking.

“This is a scary thing for a bunch of introverts to put ourselves out there and do something disruptive,” she said. “But we wanted to highlight the disconnect between the value that everyone seems to put on beautiful scenes like this (the wanaka tree) and the apathy we have towards saving these places.”

Simmonds says that whilst the protest

officially set up at 6am, she had been up since 3.30am with a severe case of nerves. Activism isn’t easy and takes courage to get out of your comfort zone, but for the group of around 25 fellow extinction rebels, it was worth it.

As the tree is one of Wanaka’s favourite wedding photo locations, the group were aware that brides who had been planning their dream shot for months, could rightly be upset that the protest had hijacked their picture-perfect setting. But they needn’t have worried. As one bride came close she saw what was happening and chose not only to have her photo with the group, but to pick up a placard and join in; “She

was very gracious and very beautiful,” said Simmonds.

“We had some initial negative feedback but we had some Mandarin translations which we handed out to the tourists and once people read that and understood then they were fine with it.”

The Extinction Rebellion is currently engaging in peaceful civil disobedience around the world. More than 1,000 people have been arrested at Extinction Rebellion protests in London, in what organisers described as the biggest civil disobedience event in recent British history.

Continued on page 2

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Junior doctors to strike for five days

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ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Resident Medical Officers (RMO) who are part of the New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association (NZRDA) will strike for five days starting April 29 at 8am.

The doctors' union and district health boards are at an impasse over the doctors' employment deal, which expired in late February. Doctors said District Health Boards (DHB) proposals would strip the NZRDA of its power of veto over roster and other employment provisions. DHBs said they want flexibility and local control over rosters; however, the union said those are clawbacks it will not agree to.

A NZRDA statement said doctors were “forced into this position”, and the opportunity between the union’s last strike and this one could have afforded the DHBs a chance to rethink their settlement offer to RMOs in terms and conditions of employment.

“Our members became doctors so they can treat patients and make a better world,” said NZRDA senior advocate David Munro. “Having to strike simply to retain hard-won improvements to working conditions from past negotiations is deeply upsetting.”

DHBs have called the planned strike “unnecessary, uncalled for and disproportionate when there’s a process underway to find a settlement.”

DHB spokesperson Peter Bramley issued a statement which said, “How can the union ask for urgent facilitation then threaten this kind of disruption?”

The strike will have a major impact on hospitals and their patients; Southern DHB would not return our request for comment on how the strike will specifically affect Dunedin Hospital and Dunstan Hospital and care that cannot be delayed, such as pregnant women being assured a doctor around the clock during childbirth.

The strike, which will end May 4 at 8am, will cover all DHBs except for Canterbury as the hospital there remains under pressure from the Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15.

The doctors have held four two-day strikes since mid-January.

A resident doctor covers anyone from a recent graduate to those nearing the end of specialist training.

Pictured: Junior doctors, except those in Canterbury, voted to strike for five days starting April 29 stemming from a deadlock over the doctors' employment deal.

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Snow Farm and Cardrona receive boost to immerse into Chinese tourist market ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Snow Farm NZ and Cardrona Alpine Resort are new recipients of the New Horizons Fund programme grant to help both businesses make more opportunities from the quickly growing China tourism market.

Initiated by Christchurch International Airport, the economic development programme is helping six South Island regional tourism organisations to attract and do more business with Chinese visitors.

Snow Farm and Cardrona were selected amongst the latest recipients, which also include Mt Hutt Ski Area, the Alpine Pacific Touring Route, Experience MidCanterbury and Destination Marlborough.

Each business will receive $16,000 to be used toward creating new marketing collateral for the China market and traveling with the Christchurch Airport team to meet with travel buyers abroad.

The airport team will also be providing mentoring to each business, drawing upon their extensive experience in the Chinese tourism sector.

“It’ll equip [the grant recipients] to make confident business decisions, because of the valuable insight from and introductions by the Christchurch Airport team," said past recipient Encounter Kaikoura’s business manager Lynette Buurman. "Our Chinese visitor numbers are steadily growing, largely due to the generous assistance the airport gave us, through New Horizons, to grow our business.”

Snow Farm sales manager Pip Gillespie said they will spend $8000 of the grant on travel to China in order to market the local area and ski fields. "We travel over at the end of June to spent time visiting trade shows and meet with ski clubs," she said.

"There will be myself travelling over to represent the Snow Farm... Our aim is to educate the Chinese market on the south being a winter destination. The Snow Farm activities can be a few hours to a whole day experience. With this in mind, it attracts an audience that possibility wouldn’t of visited us before feeling like it was a whole day out... The Chinese are wanting to experience a wide range of different activities during their stay."

Gillespie said the remaining $8000 will be spent on other marketing required to support the Chinese tourists once they are with them on the slopes.

Christchurch Airport chief aeronautical and commercial officer Justin Watson said both Cardrona-based ski areas were selected to capitalise on China's growing interest in winter sports.

“Beijing will host the Winter Olympics in 2022, and that has sparked a surge in winter sport popularity," he said. "By having Mt Hutt, Cardrona and Snow Farm as part of the programme, we will be well positioned to show Chinese visitors just how much the South Island has to offer in this space.

Christchurch Airport launched the New Horizons programme as part of the team's work to champion tourism in the South Island by focusing on "high-value" Chinese guests and improving their visitor experience.

Pictured: Meadow Hut at Snow Farm NZ; one of five recipients of Christchurch International Airport’s New Horizons Fund programme.

Extinction Rebellion: there is no planet B Continued from page 1

Led by Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg, the Extinction Rebellion is tired of tiptoeing around the edges whilst governments and corporates talk about the environment but do nothing.

Their mandate states; “Our leaders are failing in their duty to act on our behalf.

Our current systems of governance is compromised by a focus on profits and economic growth. Politicians can be influenced by lobbies of powerful corporations and the media are hampered by vested interest of corporate advertisers undermining our democratic values.

“We have run out of the luxury of time to react incrementally. We must radically and immediately begin reducing emissions and improving carbon absorption, drawing it down and locking it up again.

Only a peaceful planet-wide mobilisation of the scale of World War II will give us a chance to avoid the worst-case scenarios and restore a safe climate.”

Globally species are going extinct at rates up to 1,000 times the background rates typical of Earth’s past. More than a quarter of the assessed species (around 100,000)

PHOTO: Emma Conyngham

are currently threatened with extinction.

That is 40 percent of all amphibians, 25 percent of all mammals, 34 percent of all conifers, 14 percent of all birds, 33 percent of reef-building corals, 31 percent of sharks and rays.

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

The direct causes of biodiversity loss being habitat change, overexploitation, the introduction of invasive alien species, nutrient loading and climate change.

Pictured: The Extinction Rebellion at the Wanaka tree.

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Learn Maori action songs at local workshop

PHOTO: supplied PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Soft plastic recycling scheme relaunch undetermined ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Soft plastic recycling collections are expected to restart this week; however, plans to relaunch the sustainable programme in the South Island are yet to be announced.

The Love NZ Soft Plastic Recycling scheme, which recycles soft plastics and wrappers, and NZ’s participating retailers, supermarkets and brands will resume collections at a number of tobe-determined Auckland store locations. Plans to migrate the special recycling bins back down to the South Island remain unclear, but it is reported the phasing will likely occur within the next 12 months.

The Packaging Forum paused the recycling scheme, which recycles soft plastics and wrappers, last summer stating that they were collecting more than they could process in New Zealand due to global changes.

In a released statement, the company said, “When we started the scheme, we were exporting the soft plastic offshore. The change in global context, particularly China’s willingness to accept offshore waste, has significantly impacted our ability to process the large volume of plastic waste collected via our scheme. We took the decision to pause the scheme and have been working on how we can restart it in a sustainable way while continuing to recycle as much as we can locally, plus supporting initiatives to reduce the creation of plastic waste.”

The Packaging Forum wanted to shift the scheme’s model from collecting large volumes and sending overseas to instead collecting only what New Zealand processors can handle.

“What I would say about the scheme is that, given the difficulties [The Packaging Forum has] faced, it reinforces that we need to focus our efforts at the top of the waste hierarchy on reduction and reuse,” said Sophie Ward of Wanaka Wastebusters. “We all need to shift away from the make-use-dispose economic model that is putting so much pressure on the earth.”

She said Plastic Free July is a great opportunity for people to think about shifting their habits away from single use plastics and looking for available alternatives. “We'd love to see everyone take part.

Plastic Bag Free Wanaka has a zero waste shopping guide on their website which can help people to find zero waste alternatives for lots of common products.”

For readers looking to not add more volume to their stockpiled soft plastics as they await the recycle programme’s relaunch in Central Otago, can check out the zero waste shopping guide at https:// bit.ly/2PlZz2a or visit plasticbagfreewanaka.org.nz.

The Love NZ Soft Plastic Recycling scheme has been operating in stores since 2015.

Pictured: The Love NZ Soft Plastic Recycling scheme is relaunching in select Auckland store collections; however, plans to migrate the programme down to the South Island are yet to be announced.

ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Community kapa haka group Matariki Tupu Hou Wanaka is presenting a waiata-a-ringa (action song) workshop next month. Professional Maori cultural tutor and songbird Ebony Webster, of Queenstown, will deliver the class to teach guests new Maori words and songs as well as discuss the meaning behind the songs’ physical movements.

The workshop is open to all ages and abilities; however, attendees are strongly encouraged to join the group’s weekly kapa haka practices to gain advanced familiarity with the songs. Matariki Tupu Hou Wanaka meets in Mount Aspiring College’s East Common Room every Thursday from 6pm until 8pm.

Attendees must commit to both workshop days on Friday, May 24, from 6pm until 8pm and Saturday, May 25, from 10am until 1pm. Event entry is $5, and guests are encouraged to bring food to share for Saturday morning tea.

Matariki Tupu Hou Wanaka, established in 2006 and recently reignited after a meeting hiatus, is a diverse, all-age and not-forprofit group who meet together to celebrate, learn and support Mãori customs and songs in the community.

Matariki Tupu Hou Wanaka would like thank the Queenstown Lakes District Creative Communities Scheme for their funding support for this wãnanga. For more information, email kapahakawanaka@gmail.com.

Pictured: Matariki Tupu Hou Wanaka in practise.

Designer sought for Luggate Hall Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Last week Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) released a request for proposal (RFP) to assemble a design team for the permanent replacement for Luggate Memorial Hall.

QLDC property director Richard Pope advised the requirements will include designing to certified passive house standard.

“We are keen to see proposals from suitably qualified designers who have knowledge and experience with passive housing,” said Mr Pope.

In order to get potential contractors involved in the process early, expressions of interest will also be sought from contractors interested in being involved in the design process.

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“We plan to release a request for proposal (RFP) for this early contractor involvement on the GETS portal shortly,” Mr Pope said.

Once the design team is assembled, the project will then move into the next stages.

“A particular area of focus will be how the new facility can help meet community space needs not only for Luggate but for the wider Upper Clutha community,” added Mr Pope.

Responses to the Design Team RFP can be provided via the GETS portal until 12 noon on 20 May 2019. Community consultation on the draft designs is expected to take place later in 2019 with the permanent hall earmarked for completion in early 2021.

To view the Luggate Hall Passive House Design Services RFP go to www.gets.govt.nz RFx ID 20950568 THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

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Thousands submit on high-country management STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Supplied

Bread Tags for Wheelchairs Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

A popular recycling scheme in South Africa has just been established in Wanaka. Bread Tags for Wheelchairs has been running in South Africa since 2006, collecting bread tags which a plastics company, Zibo, buys for a small amount per kilo. The tags (high impact polystyrene, type 6 plastic) are recycled and made into seedling trays.

The proceeds from the seedling trays are used to provide wheelchairs for the needy.

At present about 500kg are collected per month in South Africa, funding two to three wheelchairs. People who were aware of this program had been collecting tags for this cause in New Zealand for many years and either taking them to South Africa when they visited or posting them.

In February 2019, a New Zealand arm of Bread Tags for Wheelchairs was established in order to promote the program, increase collection, look into local recycling and streamline the transport of the tags. Wanaka local coordinator Lindsey Schofield said, “Our aim is to have all New Zealand bread tags recycled here, with just the funds remitted to South Africa to buy wheelchairs.”

Bread Tags for Wheelchairs was the brainchild of Mary Honeybun who retired from a long and successful nursing career but found that she

PAGE 4

could not ‘retire’ from her passion to help people. Honeybun was aware that the majority of people in need of wheelchairs in South Africa were often unable to afford to buy their own. So she decided that she would put her efforts into providing them to people of all races and creeds. Her other priority was that it should be something that was environmentally friendly. So Mary came up with the idea of recycling bread tags, which usually go into landfill, and using the funds to provide wheelchairs.

“In New Zealand we have yet not had any success with small or largescale plastics or recycling companies, but we are working on it,” said Schofield. “If you have any contacts in the recycling space, we would love to hear from you! So for now, we will be sending the bread tags to South Africa for recycling. Our aim is to have all New Zealand bread tags recycled here, with just the funds remitted to South Africa to buy wheelchairs.”

Anyone can collect the tags off bread or potato bags. All you need to do is get a jar and throw your tags in, or print off some of the labels and signs (available on the website) to collect at work or school. When your jar is full enough, drop them at Wanaka’s new collection point. The details for drop off are on facebook.com/breadtagswanaka.

Pictured: Wanaka coordinator, Lindsey Schofield who is collecting bread tags for recycling.

More than 3100 submissions have been received by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) as part of the public consultation on proposals to improve the management of Crown pastoral land in the South Island high country.

“We’ve been really impressed with the number and quality of submissions,” said Jamie Kerr, acting deputy chief executive, policy and overseas investment.

“We’ve had some really substantial feedback over the past eight weeks and I’d like to thank everybody who’s taken the time to make a submission.”

Kerr said they have a big job ahead to read through all of the feedback and understand what it means for the proposed changes to the management of Crown pastoral land.

LINZ will release a summary of all the submissions in May. The public consultation was launched by Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage following the announcement that the government was ending tenure review.

“The feedback we’ve received is very valuable in terms of shaping the outcomes we want to achieve for the land and understanding the best ways to achieve them,” Kerr said.

“The consultation has started some really

productive conversations with a range of people that will not only inform legislative change, but LINZ’s operational practices too.”

The changes consulted on included: making decision-making by the commissioner of crown lands more accountable and transparent; providing more guidance and standards for the commissioner’s decisions on leaseholder applications for activities such as burning and forestry; requiring the commissioner to obtain expert advice and consult as necessary when considering applications for discretionary consents; updating the fees and charges framework; requiring regular reporting against a monitoring framework.

Proposed new outcomes for Crown pastoral land include: ensuring that the natural landscapes, indigenous biodiversity, and cultural and heritage values are secured and safeguarded through the Crown’s management of the land; allowing for pastoral and non-pastoral activities that support economic resilience and local communities.

For more information visit www.linz.govt.nz/cplc.

The submissions will inform advice to Minister Sage and government on potential changes to the Crown pastoral land regulatory system, the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998 and consequential changes to the Land Act 1948.

There will be a further opportunity for the public to provide comment when a Parliamentary Select Committee considers a bill.

Intersection Speed Zone activated STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

NZ Transport Agency has switched on the Intersection Speed Zone signs at the intersection of State Highway 6 (Luggate-Cromwell Road) and State Highway 8A. Intersection Speed Zones are electronic signs that reduce the legal speed limit on a state highway—from 100kph to 70kph—if a vehicle is turning into or out of a side road.

The sign will activate, change the speed limit and start flashing if a vehicle is waiting at or approaching the intersection from a side road, or turning right into the side road from the main highway. If there are no vehicles waiting or approaching on the side roads, then the sign

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

is switched off and the speed limit of 100kph does not change.

NZTA maintains the intersection speed zones improve road safety: “Most intersection crashes on high-speed roads involve crossing or turning vehicles.

“We know that the risk of serious injury or death from side-impact crashes increases significantly above 50kph, so getting motorists to slow down when there is another vehicle approaching these intersections will help prevent these types of crashes and significantly lower the risk of serious injury.”

Fatal and serious crash rates at the first ten intersections trialled with this device have reduced 79 percent, and the overall crash rate has reduced by 51 percent.

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OPINION

QLDC Mayor Jim Boult focuses on the issues facing Wanaka and surrounds.

An open letter on the visitor levy boult J Jim QLDC Mayor Ténã koutou katoa, Over the last few weeks I have grown increasingly concerned about the commentary emerging from parts of the local accommodation sector regarding the proposed visitor levy on which we will all be asked to vote in June. I am concerned because much of this commentary is based on assumption, and perhaps even in some cases, deliberate misinformation.

I accept that council has not been able to provide detailed information to date. That has been influenced by the referendum process we need to follow, in particular the tight timeframe in which to finalise and present the referendum to our community and the complexity of working through the details. Council officers continue to prioritise work with central government officials and independent advisors to finalise the model. Regardless, I felt it was important and timely to provide as many facts as possible. Facts that may assist in addressing the concerns of some in the accommodation sector and help inform the wider community.

The need for an alternative revenue stream to fund visitor-related infrastructure and services is widely accepted. How to generate that revenue stream has been a much harder question to answer and we have been on a long journey to get us to the point where we are today. The government is finally offering our community the chance to express its support for a local visitor levy which will help fund the crucial infrastructure we need, and will take the full burden off our ratepayers. This will be a first for Aotearoa New Zealand. Let’s not forget that getting to this point is a monumental achievement for our district and this council. A visitor levy is something I personally have advocated for since becoming Mayor in October 2016. I have spent many hours with two governments and a myriad of ministers and officials to give us this unique opportunity.

Make no mistake. This opportunity is a one-off. Now is the chance for our local community to send a clear message to central government. Our residents cannot keep underwriting the financial burden of tourism-related growth and if this district is to continue to make its significant contribution to the national economy, the experience of domestic and international visitors cannot be allowed to diminish, let alone the experience of locals living with this. Without additional and sustainable funding, the tourism industry in Aotearoa New Zealand truly is at risk, which affects each and every one of us from Makarora to Kingston.

We have been clear in the 2018-2028 Ten Year Plan that the scale of investment needed is three times bigger than the previous plan at nearly $1 billion over the decade. We estimate that the visitor share of the capital and operating cost for the ten years is $350M-$400M which the proposed levy can recover. The revenue from the proposed levy would enable the council to either invest in projects that were deferred from the Ten Year Plan, accelerate projects already in the plan, and/or divert loan funding into alternative projects, all of which enable existing funding to be redirected into projects that directly benefit the local community. However it is approached this will be a major boost to the capacity to deliver high-quality services to both our local and visiting

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communities alike.

If we don’t get this levy, what are the alternatives? Firstly let me tell you that any form of revenue sharing from GST is not an alternative. The government has consistently rejected any proposal to share or increase GST. I’d be the first to support such an option but it’s simply not available and we must accept that. The two other real options are to increase rates even faster than we have been, and to earn an equivalent amount of income would require increases of up to 35 percent for some property types.

I am not prepared to burden our ratepayers with those costs to support the visitor industry, no matter how important it is to New Zealand. The other option is for council to peg back its investment which will very quickly turn us from being the country’s most attractive destination to the most unattractive, with enormous inconvenience to locals as well. Recovering from that reputational loss would be a very long road indeed. So here are some facts about what we’re proposing: The proposed visitor levy â The proposed levy will be a 5-10 percent charge applied to the costs of accommodation payable by visitors

PHOTO: Supplied

throughout the district. On a $250 per night hotel, that’s between $12.50$25.00, which is less than the cost of a couple of drinks in many hotel restaurants and bars. At a $40 per night backpackers it’s only $2-$4 per night. I doubt anyone could call that a “sizeable” levy that prefaces a wider tourism sector downturn as some have suggested. â It is proposed that the levy will apply to all short-term (less than four weeks) accommodation based on occupancy, not number of beds. The levy won’t apply for stays over four weeks in length and therefore it is not expected to have any effect on tourism workers paying for accommodation. â Other models were explored including airport charges, user charges, tourism-related activity charges and a percentage of GST. The levy on short-term accommodation was chosen as it is well accepted and understood internationally, but best of all is collected through an activity that predominantly only visitors use. We actively looked at activity-based charges, charges on food and beverages, but these are more complex, and target locals as much as they target visitors and our residents already contribute through their rates. Taken wider, where do you start and where do you stop? Attraction providers are in the tourism business, but so are retailers. And that will include gas

stations and supermarkets, with the result that locals will again be paying. â This levy targets visitors, not accommodation providers, and is not as some have suggested an assault on the accommodation sector’s profits. We also don’t anticipate that a levy of 5-10 percent on top of the accommodation cost would have a significant effect on the majority of people choosing to visit and stay in the district—it’s not an unusual model and doesn’t put people off visiting Whistler or Aspen! â The current proposal won’t apply to freedom campers in the district, however we are keenly aware of the community’s concerns that these visitors make a contribution. We are investigating models to capture freedom campers as our intention is to ensure they make a fair contribution like everyone else. â Accommodation providers currently pay a differential rate which is inadequate to collect the scale of revenue needed to fund the district’s infrastructure and services. If the levy is implemented the current differential rate will be reviewed to ensure that accommodation providers are not paying for costs to be funded by the new levy. This will ensure that the additional funding needed is collected from visitors, and it is likely this may lead to a reduction in the rates accommodation providers pay.

Collecting the visitor levy â We are in discussion around collecting this in the same way that GST is charged, as a clear below the line charge. It will not be hidden in any room rate, and will clearly exist as a local charge. Yes there is a small risk some people may be put off visiting but given the district’s premier reputation we are confident that like GST it will be quickly absorbed by visitors. It’s also important to note that the average stay in, for example Queenstown, is now less than three nights per person so the impact on their overall visitor experience in NZ will be very limited. â Peer-to-peer online platforms, such as Airbnb, would collect the payment directly from the visitor at the time of booking and many have already signalled their support and willingness to implement a similar model they already have in place for other global destinations with a local levy. This ensures every visitor booking through these platforms for accommodation in our district is contributing. â If implemented, we anticipate the levy would be in place for the 2021-2031 Ten Year Plan giving plenty of time to put systems in place to collect the levy that are effective and require no more administering than the GST regime that many providers manage successfully today.

This is by no means all the detail, and further information will continue to be released over the coming weeks. Everyone will receive more facts with their voting papers between 14-19 May. It’s important that a discussion within the community sticks with the facts and that above all our community makes its voice heard. The government has acknowledged that we are a unique case and they have opened the pathway to a unique solution, and it’s within our power to now say whether we want it or not.

This is our one and only chance to change the way we finance our district.

Let’s not waste the opportunity.

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

PHOTO: Supplied

Safety first this game bird season STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

With the game bird season kicking off next weekend Fish and Game NZ (F&G) is reminding hunters that safety measures have never been more important.

It is crucial that hunters treat the safe transport and handling of their shotguns with the "utmost care and sensitivity" when the new season begins on Saturday, May 4, said F&G chief executive Martin Taylor.

This will be the first season under the reformed gun laws which have made most semi-automatic firearms illegal. F&G advises all hunters to visit the Police website www.police.govt.nz and click on the yellow link called Firearms Law Reform Information.

"Fish & Game supports these changes to these gun laws and believes that good decisions have been made for both game bird hunters and the community," Taylor said.

"There will be no real change for the vast majority of game bird hunters as we successfully made a case to retain semi-auto and pump shotguns for game bird hunting. This means game bird hunters can use semi-automatic and pump action shotguns as long as their internal magazines only hold five shots.”

Taylor said every single hunter is urged to focus on safe gun handling, and be fastidious about checking firing zones to make sure it’s safe to fire.

F&G is again joining with Police and Mountain Safety Council and Water Safety New Zealand to advise game bird hunting licence holders to focus carefully on their actions, and make sure they do everything possible to keep both themselves and others safe.

The season closes on August 25 for upland game like pheasant and quail, while duck season closes earlier depending on individual regions.

Pictured: Dinner.

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Proposed new BP service station in Three Parks subzone ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

BP Oil New Zealand has lodged a resource consent application to build and operate a new petrol station in Three Parks business subzone.

The proposal includes a new BP Connect service station with 16 filling stations, a jet wash/car wash station, LPG gas bottle swap facility and 26 car parks. The BP Connect store would operate 24 hours a day, sell convenience foods and automotive supplies as well as include Wild Bean Café.

BP estimates that construction will take about 14 to 16 weeks and plans

to break ground during the middle of this year.

When asked for comment on any impacts this possible construction could have on the BP service station on Ardmore Street, Leigh Taylor, BP Oil New Zealand communications and external affairs manager, said, “I’ve spoken with the team and, while I can confirm that BP is exploring opportunities within the Three Parks development, I’m not able to confirm any more detail at this stage as it’s early in the consenting process and subject to change.”

Pictured: BP Oil is proposing to build a new service station in Three Parks Zone.

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

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Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A recent report showing a rise in gross emissions underpins why New Zealand Government is taking action on climate change.

The latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory details an emissions increase of 2.2 percent between 2016 and 2017 and a 23.1 percent increase between 1990 and 2017. The 2016 – 2017 rise was largely driven by increases in road transport emission and fossil fuelgenerated electricity production.

In a media release, climate change minister James Shaw said, "That shows why we need the kind of clear policies and actions the government’s proposing on climate change."

According to the inventory, with the exclusion of carbon dioxide absorbed by forestry, net emissions have increased by 65 percent since 1990. Shaw said New Zealand's two largest contributing sectors to 2017 gross emissions were 48.1 percent agriculture and 40.7 percent energy. Commenting on the latest inventory, Robert McLachlan, distinguished professor at Massey University and New Zealand Centre for Planetary Ecology said, "The vehicle fleet grew by 180,000 in 2017, and the total distance travelled, after being flat for several years, was up sharply too. Fuel efficiency of the fleet is hardly improving. Altogether, transport emissions rose by 930,000 tonnes of CO2 – a six percent jump in a single year. This trend continues, although final emissions figures are not yet in, the fleet grew by another 140,000 vehicles in 2018. The measures that would cut emissions, and that are well underway in most developed nations, a feebate scheme, fuel efficiency standards and rapid electrification of the national bus fleet, are still missing in New Zealand.”

He continued, "Forestry sinks were down 870,000 tonnes: more trees were cut down than were planted.

This situation is likely still in place, although it will be reversed when the billion tree programme kicks in."

Shaw said, “It’s why we intend to have enduring climate change legislation passed into law this year. The legislation will establish the independent Climate Change Commission to provide advice on emission budgets and help keep us on track towards our long-term climate change goals. Reforms of New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme, which will also enter Parliament this year, will provide additional incentives for industry to reduce emissions over time.”

New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory is the official annual estimate of all human-generated greenhouse gas emissions and removals that have occurred nationally since 1990.

Pictured: The latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows a gross emissions increase of 2.2 percent between 2016 and 2017.

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NATURE - A monthly column by your local branch of Forest and Bird

Tenure review and pastoral leases – how can we protect iconic high-country landscapes and species?

It is not widely known that much of the land in the South Island’s iconic high-country sheep and cattle stations is not owned by farmers but leased to them by the government. The soil, landforms, and naturally established plants and animals therein belong to the Crown and the people of New Zealand.

It is over this land and these leases that the controversial process of tenure review has been undertaken—and it is because of the extraordinary landforms and biodiversity within these leases that concerned groups like Forest and Bird (F&B) have been so interested in pastoral leases and tenure review.

In February this year the government ended the process of tenure review and public consultation on the future of crown pastoral lease land (CPL) closed early this month.

There are 171 pastoral leases totalling 1.2million ha, occurring over mountain ranges and inland basins from Marlborough to Southland, and from the main divide almost to the east coast. Leases can be bought and sold like freehold land. They have a 33-year term with a perpetual right of renewal. The lessee has a right of exclusive occupation, but their only use right is to graze the land. To do anything else requires the discretionary consent of the Commissioner of Crown Lands (CCL). The statutory obligations of the lessee are to manage and use the land in accordance with “good husbandry” broadly considered to be “careful prudent land management and adherence to responsible and 'accepted' farming practices.” Lessees are also required to control all weeds and pests.

Stock types and limits are also set in the terms of the lease.

Despite some positive outcomes from tenure review, the overall result of some 30 years of poorly and improperly implemented tenure review and discretionary consents, has been significant and irreversible loss of indigenous biodiversity and valued landscapes in our high country. For example, between 1990 and 2017, some 68,000ha of the Mackenzie Basin with indigenous vegetation, native fauna and high landscape values has been lost.

Because of such losses, F&B prepared a comprehensive submission on the future of CPL, making a number of recommendations. We identified the major shortcomings with the way CPL has been managed to date: there are no clear and prioritised stated outcomes for

CPL, and protection of environmental values is not prioritised; there is no agreed definition of ecologically sustainable use; there is no public input to or rights of appeal on decisions of the CCL whose decision is almost beyond challenge and scrutiny; there is frequent disregard for expert advice of the Department of Conservation when assessing consent applications, or absence of up-to-date information; there is lack of enforcement and effective remedy of breaches of leases; there are poor opportunities to establish public access; and poor alignment with RMA processes.

F&B submit that if we are to safeguard what natural values remain on CPL and even more so, restore some of what has been lost, there needs to be a major change in the way CPL is managed. Fundamentally, the safeguarding of natural values needs to be expressly stated as a priority outcome in the Crown Pastoral Land Act (1998) and the Land Act (1948) and in policy. The relationship between the Crown and the lessee needs to be reframed, to recognise roles of guardian and custodian respectively, and also with the Crown being more proactive as a partner in dealing with issues such as weed and pest control. Any use of the land must be compatible with the safeguarding of natural values and to not be a barrier to or impede restoration and maintenance of healthy resilient ecosystem function.

Baseline surveys and inventory of natural values on CPL is required so the Crown knows what it is guardian of.

The decision-making by the CCL needs to be transparent, based on independent expert advice (through a High Country Advisory Group), explicitly stating how the decision upholds the stated outcomes. F&B would like to see opportunity for public input to the decision-making, which would require public notification, and a right of appeal to the Environment Court. F&B also want to see timely and meaningful enforcement of penalties for breaches of leases.

The Crown needs to urgently shed its buffering mantle of disinterest in Crown land management, and seriously and diligently execute its role as steward of some of the most important ecological and landscape values in New Zealand.

Anne Steven is on the committee of the Central Otago lakes branch of Forest and Bird.

PHOTO: pixaby

Mega mast a bonanza for pest plagues STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Monitoring by DOC has confirmed the predicted mega mast or heavy seeding in New Zealand’s forests this autumn, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has said.

Results from extensive seed sampling across the country in February and March point to the biggest beech mast for more than 40 years with exceptionally heavy seed loads in South Island forests. Rimu forests and tussock grasslands in the South Island are also seeding heavily.

DOC’s seed sampling programme involved snipping branches by helicopter from over 8000 beech and rimu trees at nearly 200 sites across the North and South Islands and counting more than three million seed pods from 43,000 samples. More than 1000 tussock plants were also monitored at 63 sites. The estimate of seed-fall this autumn informs predator control planning.

Forest seeding provides a bonanza of food for native species but also fuels rodent and stoat plagues that will pose a serious threat to native birds and other wildlife as predator populations build up next spring and summer.

Sage said that new funding of $81.2 million in Budget 2018 over four years had enabled DOC to scale up its predator control programme to respond to the threat posed by the mega mast.

“DOC is planning its largest-ever predator control programme for 2019/2020, at a cost of $38 million, to suppress rats, stoats and possums over about one million hectares or 12 percent of conservation land.

“This is a step up from the previous largest programme of 840,000ha in 2016 and 600,000ha

in 2014 and 2017 when there were significant but smaller mast events.

“If we don’t act, we could lose populations of bird species like our tree-hole nesting orangefronted parakeet and mohua, and bats, which are so vulnerable to rat plagues.

DOC’s Tiakina Ngã Manu predator control programme, previously known as Battle for our Birds, uses aerially applied 1080 pesticide and largescale trapping to protect native birds, bats, frogs, lizards and giant land snails at the most important sites across the country.

This work is carefully targeted to sustain the most vulnerable populations of kiwi, kãkã, kõkako, kea, whio/blue duck, mohua/yellowhead, kãkãraki/ orange-fronted parakeet, rock wren/tuke, long and short tailed bats/pekapeka, native frogs and Powelliphanta snails.

Priority sites for predator control include Kahurangi, Abel Tasman, Arthur’s Pass, Westland, Mt Aspiring and Fiordland national parks, the Catlins and Whirinaki. The programme includes more than 66,000ha of trapping and more than 900,000ha aerial 1080 operations.

While most sites have been confirmed and are at an advanced stage of planning, predator control operations will only proceed at mast sites from May this year if rodents reach levels that pose a threat to wildlife.

DOC has been consulting with iwi partners, regional councils and other pest control agencies, community groups and neighbouring landowners in recent months as part of its planning. Pictured: The biggest beech mast for more than 40 years with exceptionally heavy seed loads in South Island forests.

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THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

PAGE 7

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SHORT STORY

Dawn parade, by Anni Docking I emerge from the darkness of the park beneath the redwood trees and step out onto the lake shore.

Even in the pre-dawn hours, there is always a plethora of photographers huddled in the curve of Roy's Bay, stalking #thatwanakatree in the mist. Roots surrounded by water unless the dam gates open and the Clutha floods, the lonesome willow still stands long after history might have claimed it. The camera crowd cluster together facing the water, unified by a singular purpose, and I wonder how far they have traveled in order to arrive here, on this day at this precise time. Do they know what this twenty-fifth day of April represents? From the log cabin which faces west, I make out the fierce strains of a lone bagpipe, calling a crowd to assemble.

I leave the photographers behind as my boots scrunch over the small rocks and worn pebbles that line the lake, left by retreating glaciers millennia ago. I make my way towards the township’s foreshore, disturbing a gaggle of ducks as I pass by, and they take to the air from rocky perches and swoop to land on the water’s surface.

Ahead I can see the soldiers trooping onto the small hillock near the willow trees, and the sleepy crowd falls silent as the first rays of sunrise frame the edge of Mt Iron.

Suddenly I hear it. The clear tones of a solitary man singing. First, the Australian national anthem followed by our New Zealand anthem, sung in te reo Mãori and then in English. I come to a halt on the shore, standing a little way off from the service, pulling off my woollen beanie and coming to attention to bow my head and listen, tears rolling down cheeks pink with frost.

I think then of my Australian grandfather–James Cemp Ewing, 7th Reinforcements, 11th Australian Light Horse Regiment–lying now at peace among fallen comrades, with the smell of war and the dirt of trenches still beneath his fingernails, dust of the Heliopolis desert clogging his nostrils, the fragment of shrapnel still lodged in his thigh. He carried it home with him on the troop ship, his badge of honor shadowing him in pain for the rest of his life, and they buried his bravery with his body. I think of him, limping around the ranch, smiling sternly through all those years he raised my mother as his own child; the daughter of another soldier, Robert Leonard Twemlow. I can

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imagine them now, cantering their horses around the heavens together, wind dashing through their hair and the glow of freedom in their young eyes.

Mum didn’t know about her parentage until she applied for a passport, the year they first required documents for trans-Tasman travel. Her roots were covered with murky water, and it took a long time to swim beneath, looking for truth.

My grandmother carried the family secrets with her when she passed, so Mum spent the last of her 72 years searching for her biological father. A transparent ghost, an empty limb on the family tree; the only evidence a black-and-white portrait in the ANZAC archives.

A single bugle cuts the air, and the heavy flags of our two countries–blues and whites and reds, stars woven together with the blood of many– are slowly lowered as the haunting notes of The Last Post ring true. The steps of the attendant soldiers die away, and all that is left behind are poppy wreaths and green garlands adorning the memorial stone. The remaining crowd–the mayor, the schoolchildren and teachers, the parents, the tourists and the curious backpackers–all trickle away to the coffee shops and breakfast.

Turning southward, I leave the township behind me, cool sun at my back, and follow the curve of the lake once more, scattering ducks in my wake.

When I reach the graceful willow, its swooning branches beckon me. Ignoring the cluster of cameras, I step carefully over the wet roots and reach softly around the trunk. Its girth reminds me of my gentle gruff grandfather, and I squeeze my arms a little tighter in a farewell hug.

I remember him. I will not forget.

Van Riel nominated for three awards Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

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Local songbird, Anna van Riel has been nominated for three awards in the 2019 Children’s Music Awards.

Van Riel was nominated for the 2019 APRA Best Children's Song finalists for Haere Mai Song; Recorded Music NZ Best Children's Artist finalists for Fishing For Stars; and NZ On Air Best Children's Music Video for Echo (feat. Tasmin).

Presented by Recorded Music NZ, APRA NZ and NZ On Air, the awards have the support of Kiwi Kids Music, the national association of children’s songwriters, creators and producers. Formed by some of the most passionate creators of music for Kiwi Kids and currently chaired by Suzy Cato, the association supports NZ children’s music creators and seeks to advance the potential of all our children to live healthy fulfilling lives. Winners will be announced at an invite only ceremony on Sunday May 5.

Pictured, Anna Van Riel.

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

PHOTO: Supplied

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Wheels up for inaugural event The weather gods may not have been smiling over Easter Saturday or Sunday but it didn’t dampen the crowd support for the inaugural Wheels at Wanaka. Around 15,000 people made their way to Three Parks for the event—something you could smell before you could see, with diesel fumes hitting your nostrils before the throbbing grunt of petrol-fuelled horsepower hit your ears. Petrol heads, bogans, vintage collectors and farmers all united in their love of engines.

Event organisers were thrilled with the turn out and how the twoday event ran. “Vehicles of all shapes and sizes came from across New Zealand, many visitors also came from Australia to attend this inaugural event,” said media liaison, Annabel Roy. “We had fantastic support from all vehicle industries, partners, exhibitors, volunteers and the community. It was wonderful to achieve the vision that a few like-minded blokes first talked about over a few beers two years ago.”

One highlight during the event was the money raised for Coastguard Wanaka Lakes. A pristine 1961 vintage boat had been generously donated by Clynt Nauman from Alexandra which was auctioned off.

The lucky bidder who parted with $10,000 in the charity auction was none other than Alan Dippie, developer of Three Parks. Jonathan Walmisley from Coastguard says the money will all go towards the new marine rescue centre.

Due to the event success, Wheels at Wanaka is already scheduled for April 3-4, 2019. (Top tip for next time: wear gumboots).

A 1904 Ford Model C Runabout.

Photo: Emma Conyngham

Vintage car parade.

Photo: Neil Kerr, Arrowsmith Media

Getting down and dirty.

Photo: Neil Kerr, Arrowsmith Media

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; a kid’s delight.

Quite possibly, the world’s cutest tractor.

Photo: Emma Conyngham Photo: Neil Kerr, Arrowsmith Media

A vintage car giving the next generation an appreciation for fine motoring.

Photo: Emma Conyngham Around 15,000 people attended the inaugural event.

Photo: Neil Kerr, Arrowsmith Media

Vintage tractors line up for the parade.

Photo: Emma Conyngham

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THE WANAKA SUN

Photo: Neil Kerr, Arrowsmith Media

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PAGE 9

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A monthly column by Kim Reilly, Federated Farmers South Island regional policy manager.

PHOTO: supplied

National M. bovis plan STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The three partners working to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) have reaffirmed their commitment to achieving eradication and support farmers through the eradication process.

The Ministry for Primary Industries, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand have released the 2019 M. bovis National Plan. It sets out three clear goals: to eradicate M. bovis from New Zealand; to reduce the impact of the disease and the eradication programme for everyone affected; and to leave New Zealand’s biosecurity system stronger.

M. bovis programme director Geoff Gwyn said that the National Plan is an important step in making sure that eradication is successful, and that farmers are properly supported the whole way.

“The eradication effort is on track, but there is still a lot of hard work to get done. There will be more farms put under movement restrictions, and more farms that need to be depopulated,” said Gwyn.

“Finding out that your farm might be, or is, affected must be incredibly hard news to receive, and we know that the process to get clear of M. bovis causes hardship for farmers and their families, and interruption to their business.

“We want to provide as much support and assistance as we can, as well as working to continually improve the processes that farmers have to get

through to get clear of M. bovis.

“No country has attempted to eradicate M. bovis before, so there is a lot we are learning and developing as we go. The farmer and public meetings we’re holding over the next month are an important way for us to hear from farmers about what is working and areas that can be improved.”

DairyNZ’s chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said M. bovis has created challenges for many farmers, both dairy and beef—not only those affected by the disease, but for all farmers that have increased their biosecurity measures on-farm.

“The alternative—to let this disease spread throughout the dairy and beef stock—would have been a serious challenge to the way we farm, and the ongoing costs would have been significantly higher,” Mackle said.

“We believe maintaining a collaborative approach to eradication is the best option for all farmers. By sitting at the table, we can ensure that dairy farmers are getting value for money from the eradication programme, costs are scrutinised, performance is monitored, and that dairy farmer’s views are represented to government.”

As part of the programme’s commitment to continual improvement, it is updating how it reports the number of affected properties. It will now report the total number of confirmed properties, active properties, and cleared properties. More information on the change is on the MPI website.

Rural fuel delivery – on time, every time

Don’t abandon science, practicality in ‘Year of Action’ Reilly K Kim Regional Policy Manager, South Island The year 2019 has been flagged as the government’s ‘year of action’ when it comes to environmental regulation, and there is a lot of ‘action’ coming.

Some of it good, some of it bad, and some, quite frankly, ‘ugly’.

With an election in 2020 looming, and an MP wish list that grew over the nine years the National party held the reins, there is still a lot the coalition government wants to achieve within its first term.

The list of new or updated environmental regulation heading our way is extensive. It goes well beyond reform of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). We’re also anticipating an updated National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, a National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, a National Policy Statement for Soils (or similar title), and a raft of National Environmental Standards – potentially covering matters that include nutrient allocation, stock exclusion from waterways, hill country cropping, and intensification.

There are also looming announcements on a Capital Gains tax, a Zero Carbon Act and changes to the Crown Pastoral Lease Act and Land Acts.

Not to mention the rising threat to farmland the ‘billion trees’ programme poses.

What is common in all of the above ‘changes’ is that land users, or more specifically ‘farmers’, are generally the intended target.

Governments—of whichever political hue— seem to think they always know best when it comes to farming and the environment.

Unfortunately, they do not. National regulation will not work equivalently or effectively in each local or regional situation.

Farmers certainly do not think their job is done when it comes to the environment. We are on the right path, but there will always be a need for ongoing improvements in response to changing knowledge, innovation and technology.

Neither are farmers afraid of regulation per se.

We just want to make sure that before farmers

invest in fixing a problem, that it has been correctly identified, and that the science or numbers behind it, are reliable and accurate.

Basing regulation on ‘hairy’ data or filling gaps with modelled or outdated figures or trend indicators is bad practice. So is justifying change due to ideology, or ‘public or stakeholder feedback’.

We saw this recently with the ending of tenure review. It was acknowledged front and centre that there were difficulties in identifying exactly what the environmental outcomes of past tenure review had been, given a lack of monitoring and reporting in the area. However, changes were justified in part due to ‘strong public concern’ and ‘issues raised by stakeholders’. This is generally not a good foundation for change.

It is equally worrying to see multiple attempts to regulate the same thing. This makes it impossible to monitor how effective or efficient any particular rule or restriction was, what the costs of it were, or whether it even achieved the intended outcome, or solved the supposed problem.

It is a tough time to be farming. A number of business and farm confidence surveys are telling us that farmers are not feeling understood, let alone supported, by the public, media and politicians. It is hard to reconcile the government’s push for ‘fairness’ with the onslaught of regulation that will make farmers’ lives that much harder.

New Zealand is one of the most efficient food producers in the world. Yet restrictions on agricultural activities may reach the point they threaten our domestic food supply, pushing production off-shore to countries with a higher carbon footprint and environmental impact.

The impacts of unnecessary or misguided regulation extend beyond farming, farming families, their businesses and employees. It ultimately affects the New Zealand way of life.

Sometimes, we do not truly appreciate what we have until it is gone.

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PAGE 10

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun Sport

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Wanaka AFC concedes to Dunedin Technical Wanaka’s weather was warm and sunny when they hosted Dunedin Technical on Good Friday.

Wanaka kicked off with a Northerly breeze at their backs looking to get a positive result, ably supported by a good, local crowd. The visitors however, were the more positive team early on, as the pace of Rhys Quarell and the influence of Tech Captain, Mike Neaverson had Wanaka under pressure.

Wanaka took some time to adjust, and after 15 minutes they became more assertive and started to play attractive football. Firstly, Weston Bell, went close when his far post shot was tipped wide by the tech keeper for a corner. Then, as Wanaka pushed forward, they had a number of set pieces they squandered as they didn’t adjust to the windy conditions.

Next scoring opportunity fell to Wanaka as they forced Tech to play back to their own keeper, Steve Pleskun pressured him and won the ball, his resulting square ball to fellow striker Fletcher Cavanagh looked like being a certain goal, but valiant defending on the goal line saw Cavanagh’s shot cleared away for a corner.

Tech however were still in the game and they looked to win the physical battles and play long where possible, they were to be rewarded in the 30th minute when they scored a well taken goal to the delight of their travelling supporters.

Wanaka rallied and the physical battles continued as both teams looked to give nothing away. But half time came 1-0 to Tech.

Secord half. Wanaka continued to play out from the back and create opportunities where possible and they started to dictate possession. The intensity was ramping up and was hard to fathom why there were not a few yellow cards shown to the visitors .

With Wanaka seemingly the better team in possession, an equaliser looked on the cards, but D Tech are the next to score when Wanaka loose possession in midfield, in their own half, and Tech punish them with a well taken goal. Two-nil down after 65 minutes and Wanaka still feel they are in the game and continue to create chances and always look dangerous going forward. Substitutions are made as Brandon Dickson comes on for Paul Hodgson and Geordie Mansford comes on for Weston Bell.

Wanaka continue to press forward, but Tech are once again next to score.

In the 80th minute a carbon copy of the second goal possession is lost deep in the Wanaka half. A lively Rhys Quarell gets the ball and beats two Wanaka players before slipping the ball to an unmarked striker who fired a well struck shot past a helpless Dowling in goal. 3-0 Wanaka don’t give up but it’s just one of those days where Wanaka just don’t finish opportunities that they created and to Dunedin’s credit they finish theirs and get the three points.

Wanaka next fixture is away to Dunedin on April 27 to take on league leaders, Mosgiel, which will be a challenge the team is looking forward to.

– By Andrew Miller

The football season is now up and running, and throughout the season the Wanaka Sun will be profiling the club’s senior and junior players. This week meet Allan Carmichael.

PHOTO: Supplied

Swimmers win national medals Sports reporter

sports@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Aon National Age Group Championships (NAGS) were held in Wellington last week. Over 700 swimmers from 77 teams around New Zealand participated in the five-day competition, each striving for their best swims of the year in hopes to earn medals, beat records, or even qualify for world championships.

Wanaka Swim Club members Kate Bennie, Jack Findlay, Cruz Morland, and Ben Silipo were amongst the best of the best during the competition, competing in a combined 25 individual events.

As 13-year-olds, Kate Bennie and Cruz Morland were enjoying their first NAGS event. Bennie entered six races, focusing on her best strokes of freestyle and backstroke; 50m, 100m, and 400m freestyle, 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke. Kate said of her NAGS experience, "This was my first NAGS, so I went to experience what a big meet was like. I wasn't setting any expectations, I just wanted to do my best and enjoy it. Which I did."

Just over a month ago, Cruz Morland thought his pinnacle event for the year would be the Division II competition in Dunedin, but his results there earned him the right to race in four individual events at NAGS (adding to two qualification times previously earned). His focus was on backstroke, butterfly, and individual medley events—he raced the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke, 50m and 100m fly, and the 200m IM. Cruz earned a 1.21 second personal best (PB) on his 100 fly and narrowly missed out on finals in the 200m back, placing 11th by only 0.76 seconds.

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THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

Jack Findlay competed in the 16-year-old category in 50m, 100m, and 200m back as well as 200m IM. Turning 16 shortly before the event meant that as a 15-year-old, he was striving to earn times to compete in the 16 age group. As difficult as this was, he was successful in earning impressive PBs throughout the year and managed to improve his time in the 50m backstroke once again.

Ben Silipo is no stranger to NAGS having competed last year in several events. This year, as a 14-year-old, Silipo registered to swim nine events— 50m, 100m, and 200m back, 200m breast, 200m fly, 200m and 1500m free, and 200m and 400m IM. Silipo thrives off the pressure of major events like NAGS, which pushed him to best his time in 12 out of his 13 swims. These major improvements carried him through to the finals in most of his events and onto the podium in several. Ben earned a bronze medal for his 1500m freestyle, taking 17.27 seconds off his previous best time. He also took home silver medals in the 200m fly (PB of 5.59 sec), 200m IM (7.25s PB) and 400m IM (16.26s PB). His 400m IM swim not only earned him that impressive PB and a silver medal, but also a new Otago record with a time of 4:50.25, which is four seconds faster than the previous record set in 2013.

Wanaka Swim Club would like to thank their friends and families and everyone following along with their swimmers' success throughout the year.

They have enjoyed a very exciting year and can't wait to see what the next one holds. They hope that many will join them at their first ever home meet at the Wanaka Recreation Centre on Sunday 26 May. Pictured from left: Ben Silipo, Jack Findlay, Cruz Moreland, and Kate Bennie.

PAINTBALL PAINTBALL CENTRAL CENTRAL CROMWELL

BIRTHDAY PARTIES • WORK DO STAG/HEN PARTIES • FAMILY GAMES • FREE BBQ ON SITE • FUN FOR ALL AGES email: paintballcentral@xtra.co.nz PHONE (027) 448-5399 TO BOOK PAGE 11

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Arrow ward set for 2019 election STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will retain the Arrowtown Ward for the 2019 triennial elections following a recent determination by the Local Government Commission.

QLDC Electoral Officer Jane Robertson advised that during 2018 council conducted a ‘Representation Review’ which councils are required to complete at least once every six years under the Local Electoral Act 2001 (LEA).

“The review revealed that the Arrowtown Ward would not comply with the

requirements of the LEA that state a ward’s councillor-to-resident ratio doesn’t differ from that of the wider district by more than ten percent,” said Robertson.

“Recognising the special character of Arrowtown, QLDC sought to reduce the noncompliance by altering the boundaries of the ward to increase the resident Arrowtown population. Despite this the councillor-toresident ratio remained non-compliant at minus 12.74 percent so the decision was automatically referred to the Local Government Commission to make a determination.”

QLDC was advised of the final determination

on Thursday, April 4, confirming the 2019 triennial elections to be held on October 12 will be as follows: Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward, electing six councillors; Wanaka Ward, electing three councillors; Arrowtown Ward, electing one councillor.

The extended Arrowtown Ward boundary will now take in MacDonnell Road to State Highway 6 and the area of Millbrook. New maps of ward boundaries are currently being produced and certified, and will be available prior to the 2019 election period.

QLDC Governance, Engagement and Communications Manager Naell Crosby-

Roe said the representation structure emerging from this process will be used for the 2019 QLDC triennial elections, however the council had resolved to undertake an optional review prior to the 2022 election.

“The council received a submission during the review which sought a ‘blue sky’ review of the present representation. Arrangements have remained largely unchanged since the 1989 amalgamation although the district itself has changed significantly, therefore councillors felt there would be value in undertaking the next review sooner than the anticipated six years,” said Crosby-Roe.

Crimeline HENDERSON I Ian Senior Constable , NZPD

3 FOR 2

*

across the entire DR LEWINN’S range.

By the time you read this the long Easter weekend will be over, and the influx of visitors to Wanaka will be safely back in their home towns.

Local Police have had only positive feedback from Wheels at Wanaka and the NZ Jetsprint Champs, so it is good to know that these events went without a hitch.

On Monday April 15, a local man was charged with assault as a result of our investigation into the previous weeks’ assault at Lake Hawea Hotel.

Police also dealt with a minor vehicle incident in the New World carpark— remember that if you are reversing out of a park, you must ensure that the space behind you is clear throughout the manoeuvre.

On Tuesday, two female tourists were dealt with after the Warehouse in Queenstown, reported the theft of some items.

On Wednesday Police attended a non-injury crash north of Lake Hawea near Glen Dene Station involving a foreign driver.

On Thursday April 19, Police dealt with a trespass complaint at a Hopkins Street address in Luggate where those involved had been drinking. A local man was processed that evening for drink-driving as well. On Friday, a local man was arrested for shop-lifting at New World in Dunmore Street, and he goes to court next week.

On Saturday night another local

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

man was processed for drink-driving.

Over the past week a number of business premises in the WanakaCromwell area have been broken into.

It is important that if cash or valuables are left on site then the premises have CCTV and/or alarms installed.

Owners are asked to be vigilant and report to Police any instances of suspicious vehicles or people hanging around, or who appear to be ‘casing’ your premises, write down vehicle registrations or take a photo, make staff aware of what’s going on.

Remember to carry out those winter vehicle checks—check tyre tread, put the chains in the boot, make sure the antifreeze is topped up, and carry the windscreen ice-scraper.

Whai i te wiki haumaru (have a safe week).

Roof shout for long-awaited hub

*Free product is the lesser value of the three. Excludes gift sets, value packs and clearance items.

Offer valid until May 10, 2019. Qualifying purchase must be made in a single transaction.

Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Phone: 03 443 8000 Top of Helwick Street, Wanaka OPENING HOURS: 8AM TO 7PM 7 DAYS *free 12 product is the lesser value of the three.

PAGE

Wanaka Community House has reached an important milestone and plans have been made to mark the occasion this weekend.

The roof of the community house is now on, and the Wanaka Community House Charitable Trust is celebrating with a roof shout. The community is invited to look around the highly anticipated site, find out more about the new hub, and view the final design on video. There will be coffee, drinks and a sausage sizzle.

The community house will include offices, meeting rooms and a hall for up to 140 people.

“It will be a social hub and include many other community service groups, as well as cultural users,” said trustee Yeverley McCarthy. “The hall and other facilities will also be The roof shout will officially begin with available for rent and the whole facility a karakia at 10am, Saturday, April 27. will be self-sustaining.”

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun Views

thewanakasun.co.nz

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wanaka is a place of natural beauty so keep it that way

“It is time for Mr MacLeod, Quentin Smith, Ross McRobbie and the community board to stop being sucked in by overqualified desktop town planners and bureaucratic jargon. Their role as elected representatives is to look after the interests of ratepayers NOT tourists and ensure the town is predominantly planned with that in mind. We are still growing which creates the planning issue, but that should be undertaken for the “locals” with major input by the “locals” not by some absent theorist town planners or “city hall” bureaucrats who have no empathy for Wanaka and its community.

I have followed the debacle of the waterfront and looked with dismay at the proposals being tabled for the Town Centre Master Plan and cannot believe our representatives would give any serious consideration to most of it let alone promote it as a way forward.

Wanaka is a place of NATURAL beauty so keep it that way. Why develop a cityscape waterfront??

Concrete car-parking monstrosities, gardens (really) and lawn!!!! The natural environment is what makes Wanaka what it is and why visitors come, so leave it that way.

What is wrong in the height of summer for the many many families, parking up enjoying the laid back lazy family picnic on the lakefront? It is a fantastic sight and an iconic NZ lakefront holiday experience which is now lost in so many places, why lose it here? We don't want a man-made artificial concrete landscape reminiscence of most other lake/seaside frontages all over in the world.

The town is getting congested with parking the real problem but easily resolved I believe: Ban all campervans from downtown and the waterfront; provide park and ride somewhere near the Hawea SH turnoff or at the airport with a 15min shuttle service into town; limit all parking within the town area to 30 or 60min and strictly enforce it; build three-storey paid car parking behind the old fire station and BP; add long-term car parking to the eastern end on Lismore Park where 200-400 parks could be built without having a material effect to the park; retain the lakefront parking and bus drop around the log cabin which works well as it exists and is not detrimental to the town.

Traffic flow can be addressed with sensible traffic management by redesigning the roads around town into a one-way system. The feel-good promotion of closing the lakefront to traffic is just Disneyland thinking; would be a disaster as found during the “ experiment;” and should be dropped completely from any sensible consideration.

And as for a road through the golf course, to quote that famous tennis player JohnMc “ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!” Another example of out-of-town desktop planners.

While tourism and wintersport visitors are an integral part of our town, their existence should not be driving the planning. We acknowledge them and provide for them, but planning our town should ultimately be for the benefit of the residents of Wanaka.”

Regards David Smallbone

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Crown land and council land are not the same thing

The reply to Lesley Burdon’s letter ‘Wanaka’s Urban Green Belt’ in last week’s Sun has left me bewildered, and given me no confidence that the significance between Crown land reserves and council reserves is understood, or acknowledged, by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

Our greenbelt reserves are all owned by the Crown—and therefore the people, and have rules which govern what they can and cannot be used for.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council however is responsible for the maintenance of all reserves.

Wanaka is fortunate to have long-time residents who know the important role the reserves play, and will be able to pass this information on to the next generation, to ensure Wanaka’s green spaces remain intact.

Loris King

THE WANAKA SUN

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.

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

PAGE 13

Sun Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

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LAUNDRY GW Logo Paths.indd 1

Based in Wanaka Phone Helen: 022 413 4622 e: helen@dynzdesignz.co.nz web: www.dynzdesignz.co.nz

10/26/2017 11:38:28 AM

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

Open 6am-11pm daily

PAINTERS

Laundromat Shower LPG Brushless Carwash ATM Convenience store

7.0 – 9.0 m3 Skip Bins 4.0 m3 Hard Fill Skips 4.0 m3 Rubbish Bin With Lid Contact Johnny Ph: 0224 SKIP IT (754 748) W: www.skipit.nz When you want to get rid of it - just skip it!

STORAGE Clean, dry, safe storage available now. Ezystor Self Storage, 12 Gordon Road, Wanaka, Ph: 021 242 1630.

PAINTERS&& PAINTERS DECORATORS DECORATORS

WANTED

For all your interior/exterior house For all your interior/exterior house painting requirements, call Ben painting requirements, call Ben and receive a FREE QUOTE. and receive a FREE QUOTE.

A MARINA at Wanaka Marina or a MOORING close to the Marina, either for purchase or long term rental please call or text Andrew 021-955885 or email jan@viranda.co.nz.

02040133 0133 350 0204 350

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paint@btppainting.com paint@btppainting.com www.btppainting.com www.btppainting.com

www.thewanakasun.co.nz

PEST CONTROL

NOTICES Wanaka Salvation Army Family Store. Opening Hours – Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9.30am – 4pm. We look forward to seeing you here!

Donations kindly received. Please drop them into the Salvation Army Family store or ph 443 5068 to book a pick up.

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

Business Networking International.

The Wanaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning. Great networking opportunity to grow your business.

Contact Vicki Donoghue for information 027 208 9462.

Rags, rags, rags ... little ones, big ones, cotton ones and drop cloths, available from the Wanaka Salvation Army Family Store 443 5068.

WANTED

Baby products recalled

SUN TEAM WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ISSUE 919

PHOTO: Weleda

Two Weleda baby products have been recalled.

All batches of Weleda Baby Teething Powder and Weleda Baby Colic Powder sold from October 2018 were recalled on April 18.

When first opening the jar, these batches potentially have small (about 1cm long), soft, slivers of white plastic which peel off the jar cap. The slivers present a potential for physical contamination of the powder with plastic when opening the jar and may constitute a choking hazard.

Weleda advise consumers to stop using these products immediately and return them to Weleda NZ for a refund. Address package to Medicine Recall Coordinator, Weleda NZ Ltd, Freepost 125, PO Box 8132, Havelock North 4157 and include your name and bank account. The product can also be returned to the retailer you purchased it from for a refund.

Weleda state “this recall is a precautionary measure, and no complaints have been received of a baby choking...There is no chemical or microbiological health hazard to the baby, so they will not get ill from ingestion of the actual powder, during its intended use.”

PAGE 14

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: Emma Conyngham • editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Journalist: Allison McLean • journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Ollie Blyth • 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 Deadlines: Display Advertising

Classified Advertising

Subscriptions:

4pm Friday prior to publication. adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz 021 786 740 5pm Monday prior Text: 0220 786 778 admin@thewanakasun.co.nz $175 within NZ (including GST) per year.

Overseas rates on request.

Remittances to PO Box 697, Wanaka, NZ.

WWW.THEWANAKASUN.CO.NZ

SERVICES "CALM MINDS PARENT PROGRAMME" Community Networks Wanaka is running a 4 week parenting programme for parents with primary school aged children (5-12) struggling with their child's behavior around anxiety and anger. The aim is to help parents feel more confident with managing their children and to gain more knowledge around understanding their feelings and behavior.

Meg Bryant, a child and family therapist will facilitate this programme. Starting Wednesday 8th May, 6 - 8 pm. Cost $80 per person.

For further information please email info@ communitynetworks. co.nz or call 443 7799 with any queries.

FREE COMPUTER LESSONS for older people - Community Networks is offering one-on-one

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

lessons in your own home on your own device or at our offices. If you are interested please call into Community Networks or phone 03 443 7799.

WHEELS TO DUNSTAN - free shuttle service is available to Dunstan Hospital or Alexandra specialist appointments, also linking with the St John Health Shuttle to Dunedin Hospital. For bookings, please call Community Networks on 443 7799.

JP SERVICES are available at Community Networks every Tuesday from 1pm-2pm and Friday from 10:30-11:30am.

Please book your appointment by ringing Community Networks on 03 443 7799.

FOODBANK - available for people in need. Contact Community Networks your local hub resource hub for social wellbeing services.

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 is desperately needing good quality mens clothing and shoes. If you could please just drop these into the store or phone for a pick up for large amounts.

Volunteers welcomed 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.

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.

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.

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun Views / Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

EMPLOYMENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bed tax not the solution

““Jim Boult is quoted in the Wanaka Sun opinion column (April 11, 2019) saying “… the (bed tax) model ensures it’s the visitors that are making the additional contribution, not the accommodation provider…”.

Mr Boult is incorrect in this assertion and appears to not understand the laws of supply and demand.

The proportion of a bed tax paid by the guest and the accommodation provider depends on the elasticity of accommodation supply and the elasticity of visitor demand. Accommodation supply is very inelastic—a hotel or apartment cannot be picked up and moved to another locality. Visitor demand is very elastic—visitors are able to stay wherever they choose and for as long (or short) as they like.

One hundred percent of the tax burden will only fall on the visitor when the extra bed tax cost has absolutely no effect on the visitor’s choice of where they stay and for how long they stay.

In reality, resistance to price increases will see visitors seek lower cost accommodation or stay for a shorter length of time, resulting the accommodation provider’s occupancy and net afterbed tax room rates being less than before the introduction of the bed tax.

Mr Boult’s preference for a bed tax is solely down to what he thinks will be easiest to sell to the ratepayers. When 90 percent of the council rate payers are not accommodation providers and will not be affected by a bed tax he is on to a winner.

Never mind the gross inequity that accommodation providers will end up paying a proportion of the bed tax that he wrongly says will be entirely the visitors’ cost.”

Yours faithfully Peter Sutherland Queenstown Lakes District Council politely declined to reply to this letter.

New Zealand Specialist’s wanted!!

Due to several internal movements we are looking for more people to join our sales team. We are here in Wanaka and need you to help us design great New Zealand wide holidays for our visitors. NZFT is New Zealand’s leading and fastest growing inbound tour operator. We own and operate 8 different brands creating holidays to New Zealand for people from all over the world, especially Australia, USA, Canada and the UK. What we want. The facts: • We want people who are well organized and great communicators. We can train you on almost everything else.

• It’s hard work especially during the busy seasons. Our expectations on customer service are legendary in the industry.

• Our customers are active every day and so are we – which means there are some rostered weekend shifts and public holidays. Don’t worry – you get paid extra for that!

• Commitment to giving it your best shot.

• You must be entitled to work in NZ for a minimum of 2 years.

What you get. The facts:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Time to be kaitiaki before it’s too late

“I applaud the sentiments expressed by L. Schmidt in the Wanaka Sun (Get on with it, or get out, 11/4/19). However, the council response is inaccurate when they claim they are unable to ban freedom camping. They already ban freedom camping from the township so it’s disingenuous to claim they can’t.

While the Freedom Camping Act is governed by central government legislation if you read the Act you will find that local councils can ban freedom campers from the entire district if they believe harm is being done to the environment.

There are countless examples of harm being done to the environment by freedom campers so I encourage Queenstown Lakes District Council to invoke this clause and be kaitiaki (guardians) of this precious part of the country.

Stop pushing freedom campers out to the Red Bridge etc and ban them entirely from the Queenstown-Lakes district. Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank us for it.”

Dr Fraser

• A full time well paid position. In year 1 we would be disappointed if you didn’t earn $75k – but that’s up to you! You can earn as much as you want to.

• A constant flow of well qualified enquiry.

• The best technology in the industry to help you earn the best pay in this sector of tourism.

• Great support and training.

Modern lakefront office on Ardmore Street in Wanaka • And you work in travel – which means you get to go see and do things that our visitors do.

• There’s more but the ad is too small!

If you want to find out more then send Luke an email - luke@nzft.co.nz or just stick your neck out and apply with your CV and a letter telling us why you fit the above.

Check us out here www.nzft.co.nz

JOURNALIST REQUIRED

Be part of the small team responsible for producing our popular weekly newspaper.  You will have the relevant journalism qualifications, and a minimum of two years' experience writing for a recognised media organisation.  You will have existing local contacts and the ability to connect with the wider community.  You will also have an eye for community news, strong writing ability and photography skills, and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

PHOTO: D Fraser

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Based in Wanaka, this position is for 20 hours per week with an immediate start.

Contact : editor@thewanakasun.co.nz with your CV and cover letter.

THEWANAKASUN.CO.NZ /WanakaSun

@WanakaSun

PUBLIC NOTICE

Gardener Full and part time positions available.

Based in Wanaka, this role will suit an energetic person who enjoys the outdoors, gardening and has an affinity with older people.

Mandatory requirements: • Gardening experience and plant knowledge • Good communication skills • Maintenance experience may be an advantage • New Zealand residency • Clean Driver’s Licence and no criminal convictions

Please email your CV to michelle@aspiringvillage.co.nz

by Friday 10 May 2019.

THE WANAKA SUN

Legal Executive / Legal Assistant - Wanaka A full-time position has arisen for a legal executive or experienced legal assistant to cover legal administration and conveyancing duties in our Wanaka law office.

The successful applicant will have a pleasant manner, a willingness to work as part of a team and a desire to build relationships with colleagues and clients. Previous legal experience or a Legal Executive Qualification is required.

Apply by emailing your CV and covering letter by Friday 17 May 2019 to employment@cmlaw.co.nz

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Amendment to May Meeting Schedule Meeting Cancellations: The meeting of the Appeals Subcommittee – previously advertised as taking place on Thursday 2 May 2019 has been cancelled.

The meeting of the Infrastructure Committee – previously advertised as taking place on Thursday 9 May 2019 has been cancelled.

THURSDAY 25.04.19 - WEDNESDAY 01.05.19

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

PAGE 15

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