Twelve crews attended a fire at a Queenstown property today Twelve fire crews were required to battle a blaze at a large property in the Closeburn area of Queenstown today A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said multiple reports of the fire were first received shortly before 2pm today Smoke from the fire on Closeburn Rd could be seen across Lake Wakatipu and fears for nearby forests initially led to four helicopters being placed on standby The helicopters were stood down when the fire was contained to the home and it has now been brought under control Six fire crews remain on scene to fully extinguish the fire and no one was reported inside the structure Haydn Christy was jailed in 2016 for 12 years with an 8-year minimum non-parole period You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image A young Dutchman who threw a glass in a Queenstown bar that hit a young woman’s face says being stuck in New Zealand is "heavy punishment" Appearing for sentencing in the Queenstown District Court yesterday Luuk Maarten Van Egteren said he was lonely and missed playing football and other activities with his friends at home and having to wait in New Zealand for his sentencing "feels like quite a heavy punishment to me" Police say the 21-year-old was dancing with a young woman at Winnies bar about 1.45am on January 2 The defendant reacted by throwing a glass beer handle he was holding The heavy glass struck another young woman in the face opening a 3cm gash in her cheek that began bleeding heavily but later admitted a charge of assault with a blunt instrument said the incident had been unprovoked and "came out of the blue" She was grateful the glass had not caused more serious damage but still felt anxious about going out at night Judge Russell Walker said letters of support for the defendant attested to his good character describing the incident as an "aberration" Although throwing the glass had been "reactive and spontaneous" an innocent young woman had been left with six stitches in her cheek and would probably have a permanent scar this sort of violence in nightclubs in Queenstown happens all too frequently," Judge Walker said Residents and visitors to the resort town were "sick and tired" of violence perpetrated by drunk people at night From a starting point of 14 months’ prison he applied discounts for the defendant’s guilty plea youth and steps he had taken towards rehabilitation having to stay in the country to await sentence was a significant punishment in itself and he reduced the final sentence to two months’ community detention to account for that Although a deportation liability notice was likely Van Egteren wanted to return home as soon as possible anyway He also ordered the defendant to pay the victim $12,500 in emotional harm reparation Also sentenced by Judge Walker yesterday were — guy.williams@odt.co.nz Parliament will closely monitor the government’s progress in fulfilling G20 commitments through oversight committees smkhize@parliament.gov.za AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale EAST LONDON - Eastern Cape Education says it's almost completed its investigations into Queenstown Girls High School It expects to wrap up its probe by the end of the month Parents and pupils made damning allegations of sexual misconduct and systemic racism at the school.  READ: Racism allegations at EC school prompt community protests They demanded the axing of a Life Orientation teacher who allegedly had sexual relations with some girls MEC Fundile Gade was speaking while visiting school supply warehouses ahead of the 2025 academic year The expansion of the terminal by 800m² for Air New Zealand and Aviation Security Service should take 14 months Queenstown Airport in New Zealand is set to initiate the expansion of the terminal building as part of its ongoing capital improvement programme The total investment for this project is estimated at approximately NZ$12m ($7.15m) The initiative will see the terminal building extended to the north towards the airfield adding 800m2 of office and operational space for Air New Zealand and the Aviation Security Service over the next 14 months the fit-out of the new area and renovations of existing offices will occur in stages with the entire project anticipated to conclude by early 2027 A key feature of the extension will be a non-passenger screening room and visitors to undergo security checks before accessing restricted zones the project will include substantial electrical upgrades featuring the installation of a new 1.5MVA transformer linked to the high-voltage network at Lucas Place Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis A new main electrical switch room and an airfield ground lighting power centre will also be built The current Airways power centre building will be demolished once these facilities commence operations Queenstown Airport project manager Greg Emms said: “This will give airline staff working behind the scenes a much better work environment and will also improve operational efficiency.” Queenstown Airport is allocating around NZ$10m ($5.9m) towards the final two phases of a programme aimed at seismically reinforcing the terminal structure to enhance its earthquake resilience This work encompasses structural steelwork Contractors have commenced work in the baggage hall and will progress to the check-in area and central terminal with all activities scheduled for night-time to minimise disruption This phase of construction is expected to take around 17 months to complete Queenstown Airport chief operating officer Todd Grace said: “This seismic strengthening project underscores Queenstown Airport’s commitment to the safety of our passengers In 2018, Queenstown Airport implemented a new interior signage system to help passengers navigate its facilities Nominations are now open for the prestigious Airport Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Hollywood star Jason Momoa is no stranger to Queenstown, but it appears he may be laying down more permanent roots in the Central Otago resort town The Game of Thrones, Aquaman, and Dune actor has become a shareholder in Grey Door Ltd, the company behind The Bunker, a well-known Queenstown restaurant and bar Momoa has been frequently spotted throughout Queenstown including spending time at The Bunker and riding his motorcycle The Hawaii-born actor has made frequent trips to Aotearoa over the years often sharing his time in New Zealand with fans on social media In a 2024 interview with the Otago Daily Times he said he first visited Queenstown in his early 20s saying that it “kind of blew my mind because everything I love to do is there” Momoa has long spoken about his passion for mountain biking he celebrated his 44th birthday with a snowy hot tub dip in Queenstown sharing the moment with his followers on Instagram While touring the country with his band Öof Tatatá Momoa made an appearance at Queenstown venue Yonder calling the town his “favourite place on Earth” That same tour saw the band visit towns throughout the country including Rotorua where Momoa was made an honorary citizen Momoa was a guest of Ngāi Tahu at Queenstown’s Waitangi Day commemorations the actor has also been spending an increasing amount of time in New Zealand he filmed the upcoming action film The Wrecking Crew across the country following the local shoot for A Minecraft Movie Fellow Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt was also in town last month filming the survival thriller Heart of the Beast There was speculation at the time that Pitt could have been staying at a property where Momoa was believed to have visited before New Zealand acting legend Sir Sam Neill is also a resident of Central Otago where he also has several vineyards as part of his Two Paddocks wine brand Momoa has not made any official announcement about relocating He has been acting for more than two decades making his debut in 1999 on Baywatch: Hawaii He rose to prominence following his standout performance as brutal warlord Khal Drogo on HBO’s Game of Thrones which led him to take on roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises Despite having played Aquaman in four DC Universe films Momoa is set to return to the franchise in 2025 as a new character Arrowtown’s Hyde and recently took over Arthurs Point’s Gin Garden turning that into The General Kitchen & Bar and The General Store Company director Cam Mitchell said Momoa "just loves it here" he’s a snowboarder — we’ve got all the things here that he loves and I don’t think it’s any secret that he’s looking for residency when an opportunity arose for Momoa to take a stake in Grey Door who is starring in the recently released Minecraft movie "he wants to increase his shareholding over time" Hawaiian-born Momoa has strong connections to New Zealand he was made an honorary citizen of Rotorua but he has been able to trace his family back to New Zealand he said the Momoa lineage went back about nine generations in Hawaii I’ve been just pulled there and the moment I stepped foot there it was the only place on earth I felt like this is exactly where I’m from," he said the new partnership would bolster the Wakatipu film industry "He’s got projects in the future that he wants to bring here — multiple projects "There are rumours about movie infrastructure in the future that would all help bring industry down here .. The Wharehuanui trail opened in October and links Arrowtown to Arthur’s Point This gentle trail makes for the perfect return While I consider myself a fairly active and adventurous person it had been a while since I’d been on a bike tour After an accident knocked me off my bike a few years ago it was safe to say I’d been hesitant to get back in the saddle especially where road cycling was concerned when I heard about Around The Basin’s Bike To A Brewery tour This relatively new cycle trail, the Wharehuanui trail, opened in October, linking Arrowtown and Arthur’s Point with scenic views the whole way around. After Around The Basin’s successful Bike the Wineries tours in Gibbston Valley, a cycle and brewery tour was a no-brainer you’re dropped off with your bikes (or e-bikes) some words of wisdom from the friendly Around the Basin team and sent on your way the route snakes 16km from Arrowtown to Arthur’s Point ending at the wonderful Canyon Brewing overlooking the Shotover River One of the best things about this self-guided biking tour is how long you have before the shuttle picks you and your bike up at Canyon Brewing to return to Queenstown but there’s also the allowance of an hour for exploring Arrowtown and 1-1.5 hours given for the breweries at the other end With the shuttle service from the start and end of the route back to Queenstown included in the experience price When I set off from the carpark in Arrowtown it’s a great way to see local crafts and grab a gift or two Arrowtown is also the perfect place to grab a pre-ride coffee and pastry before hitting the trails Realistically, this is the only section where road cycling is required. After you come up from the carpark to the main drag of Arrowtown you head down through the public carpark to reach the cycle trail (Countryside Trail) along the Arrow River you’ll reach Millbrook Resort and Country Club While you’re technically cycling along the road here the vehicles are few and far between and the speed bumps mean no one is rushing past you the helpful sights of the bright-blue Wharehuanui trail signs keep you on the right track – no pun intended there is a mix of gravel paths and tarmac bike paths along the main roads heading up towards Coronet Peak This is the trickiest part of the cycle and the section where my unfit legs were happy to have the assistance of an e-bike You pedal up the incline of Coronet Peak Station Rd riding across with spectacular views of the 2000m Remarkables in the distance This is classic New Zealand countryside and this vista makes the burn in your legs worth it the next part is a slightly technical downhill switchback section It’s pretty steep and had me riding the brakes a lot but I saw plenty of seasoned cyclists take it in their stride it was cool to test myself with something a little more challenging towards the end You can stop at the historic Gantley’s Tavern for a well-earned pint before continuing to Canyon Brewing I headed straight to Canyon Brewing where a flight of delicious locally brewed beers awaited alongside some seasonal sliders With an expansive outdoor seating area overlooking the Shotover River and the Edith Cavell Bridge it’s the perfect spot to rest and relax after a satisfying 16km cycle Starring a menu and ethos grounded in sustainability Canyon Brewing is an ideal place for a weekend pint it’s interesting to see the use of locally sourced ingredients including the fact its Canyon Gold lager is the first Central Otago-brewed-and-grown lager using Queenstown-grown barley grown by the brewery director There’s something beautiful and unbelievably satisfying about spending time cycling through the New Zealand countryside exploring under your own steam and then settling in for local food and sustainably sourced beer Add in the sunshine on the deck area and you have a 10/10 weekend activity day as is the rest of the Queenstown Trails network with 402,544 riders hitting the trails in the 2023-24 period A new section of the Wharehuanui trail is scheduled to open in April connecting to the new Shotover Gorge Trail follows the Shotover Gorge from Arthur’s Point for 7km before connecting with the Tucker Beach Trail which goes for a further 3.5km to the Old Shotover Bridge the route also interconnects with the Twin Rivers Trail and the Countryside Trail opening up day and multi-day route options across the Wakatipu Basin and the wider Queenstown area Developing the Shotover Gorge Trail hasn’t been an easy task with the construction of the Kimi-ākau bridge to cross the Shotover River and the renovation of the historic Hugo Tunnel at Big Beach made possible through donations by the Hugo Charitable Trust The Hugo Tunnel is a mining tunnel that spans an incredible 108m at the mouth of the Shotover Gorge Although construction was planned during the Gold Rush it’s set to offer a historic and impressive addition to the new trail from this month onwards if cycling to Central Otago’s most beloved vineyards is more your speed This 32km trail connects the vineyards of Bannockburn with the popular Gibbston Valley wineries near Queenstown Connected by two spectacular suspension bridges the route promises amazing valley views and plenty of tasty cellar-door experiences despite being apprehensive about cycling again in general let alone being left to my own devices armed with a paper route map this self-guided bike-to-brewery tour is the perfect way to spend a weekend in and around Queenstown If you’ve never done a cycle tour before and want to dip your toe in the water well signposted and has beautiful scenery and enough of a challenge to make you feel like you’ve earned the pint at the end The Arrowtown-to-Arthur’s Point Bike To A Brewery experience costs $95 for a standard bike hire with maps and shuttles and $40 if you bring your own bike from Queenstown Children’s bikes (ages 5-14) are $75 for a standard bike and $125 for an e-bike Infant bikes and equipment are also available (ages 0-4) for $65 Tours depart from the Around The Basin store at 3 Searle Lane aroundthebasin.co.nz The Marlborough Boutique Hotel offers luxury stays and a hatted restaurant has an audacious goal to become the first tourist destination on Earth to have a completely carbon-zero visitor economy – and all by 2030 travellers might take high-speed rides on Lake Wakatipu and along the shallow whitewater rapids of the Shotover River town aboard the world's first fully electric jet boats Even the TSS Earnslaw – this hemisphere's oldest coal-fired passenger-carrying steamship that has transported young families on day excursions since the 1970s – will run on hydrogen but ones that run primarily on fossil fuels – now wants to become the ecotourism capital of the world And they're aiming for a carbon-zero visitor economy in six years not an easier-to-achieve carbon-neutral visitor economy (where Queenstown could use carbon credits Becoming carbon-zero is much harder to achieve – because it means you can't emit any carbon at all doesn't it?" Destination Queenstown CEO Mat Woods asks rhetorically "2030 seemed so hard to achieve that it got the community excited It means that everyone in the community has to be part of this [push to carbon-zero]." Queenstown's huge environmental challenge stemmed from a concern that the region's infrastructure was struggling to cope with the sheer number of tourists coming to town fringed by the rugged mountains of the country's Southern Alps It's been a skiing hotspot since resorts first opened in the 1940s but the development of an adventure tourism economy built around its dramatic landscape since the 1960s established the region as one of New Zealand's most popular destinations Last year, almost 400,000 international visitors came here, an almost-20% rise since 2019, just before the pandemic. This number is particularly significant when you consider Queenstown has a permanent population of around 50,000 Green Getaways is a BBC Travel series that helps travellers experience a greener cleaner approach to getting out and seeing the world what's in this for us," Woods says "And can we really sustain this region the way it's going?" The three local regional tourism organisations – Destination Queenstown Queenstown Lakes District Council and Lake Wanaka Tourism – proposed the audacious goal in 2021 and were surprised at the support they got from tourism operators "We took the plan out to the community and weren't sure what to expect," Woods says And that's the most important part in all of this turns the scraps left by tourists into nutrient-dense soil used for food growing – a perfect example of regenerative tourism "You don't have to take giant leaps," he says "Take little steps in the right direction and you'll be amazed by what you can achieve." the most rigorous of all environmental assessment programmes Surrounded on all sides by the Southern Alps and braided river valleys in the picture-perfect hamlet of Glenorchy the lodge is built entirely from recycled building material It uses the world's most advanced compost toilets while every single litre of wastewater irrigates extensive wetlands built through the middle of the property All of its power comes from one of the South Island's largest solar gardens – there's nearly 600 solar panels on site – which produce so much energy that the excess is used to power another business up the road Where to stay: Choose Headwaters Eco Lodge or Sherwood Queenstown for eco-friendly accommodation options Where to eat: Check out Sherwood's sustainable cuisine, where hyper-seasonal ingredients are grown or foraged; or head to The Dishery which specialises in locally sourced and ethical food "My husband Paul and I came up this idea of creating these slow tourism experiences that could support this idea of regenerative design," says Headwaters Eco Lodge co-owner "We're in the most beautiful place here in Glenorchy We liked the idea of creating accommodation that had a positive carbon affect so we created these things in design to help us get there." Within Queenstown itself, a refurbished 40-year-old motor inn, Sherwood Queenstown, made Expedia's Top 10 eco-friendly stays list in 2019 It runs almost entirely off 248 solar panels and a full-time horticulturist grows nearly half of all produce required by the hotel's restaurant on a hillside within the property that overlooks Lake Wakatipu "We say that it's all about small things done consistently that really make a difference," explains general manager Hayley Scott "But it's also important to have big goals to work towards Everyone in this community is committed to getting as close to achieving carbon-zero by 2030 as we can Dig a little deeper and you'll find that world-first environmental innovation is happening across the Queenstown region. Shotover Jet which whisks travellers through the narrow canyons of Queenstown’s Shotover River at 85 km/h are trialling the world's first electric-powered jet boat but the prototype boat is capable of the same spins and turns ­– where pilots drive guests just centimetres from the cliffs beside the Shotover River – as their fuel-powered counterparts But the electric version will actually be far more powerful than the original fuel model Shotover Jet plan to share the prototype with the rest of the industry to ensure carbon output is eliminated across all jet boat companies in Queenstown • 10 sustainable travel destinations to visit in 2024 • A model for regenerative tourism in New Zealand • Why New Zealand’s newest Great Walk is so important And the world's first electric hydro-foiling ferry will soon start operating on a lake just south-west of Queenstown Expected to save more than 240 tonnes of carbon emissions each year (equivalent to taking 52 petrol cars off the road) the Swedish-designed ferry will operate on Lake Manapouri from early 2025 using battery power only The same type of ferry is expected to operate on Lake Wakatipu next with local marinas recently updated to enable electric boat charging for all lake users And the innovations towards a carbon zero visitor economy keep on coming. A local wine tour company – Appellation Wine Tours – has introduced two new electric vehicles to their fleet; while tour company Nomad Safaris started Tesla Tours taking zero-emission electric vehicles on private tours to the most scenic parts of the region like an area just beyond Glenorchy dubbed "Paradise" where rivers running down from glaciers high in the national park above feed the deep waters of Lake Wakatipu The region has also developed 130km of bike trails that follow the edge of Lake Wakatipu and lead deep into the backcountry beyond town sometimes along swaying suspension bridges crossing the emerald-coloured Kawarau River making it globally recognised as a cycling destination it's estimated biking will reach as much as 50% the size of the more carbon-unfriendly ski visitor economy that currently dominates tourism in the area Their efforts may go largely unnoticed in mainstream media but this community of former fuel-guzzlers plan to show the world there's still hope for us all yet If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. 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South America Close menu Countries Paragliding over Queenstown at sunset With dramatic scenery and opportunity to embrace every kind of adventure, it’s no wonder Queenstown is heralded as “the Playground of the Pacific.” The destination has been synonymous with thrills and excitement ever since things catapulted into full swing with the opening of the world's first commercial bungy in 1988 After many keen entrepreneurs quickly followed the formula the town gained a reputation as the “adrenaline capital” of the world – a title that holds up even more so today.  There’s an overwhelming smorgasbord of crazy and extreme activities – but visitors are unlikely to have unlimited time (or budget) to experience them all we’ve gone ahead and done the hard (aka: fun) work of narrowing it down for you Whether you’re an entry-level thrill seeker or veteran daredevil Queenstown will make you aware of just how hard your heart can beat.  Bungy jumps can now be found across New Zealand, but Queenstown is home to the world’s OG commercial bungy set atop of the historic Kawarau Suspension Bridge (built in 1880) over the Kawarau River.  and they also have a "water touch" option if you fancy a little dunk at the bottom You’ll leap off the platform and fall gracefully/with screams of terror towards the water 43m (141ft) below amidst the dramatic and craggy rock faces that carve out the Kawarau Gorge Shotover Canyon Swing is the place to go for a scary-as-hell experience that also encourages you to showcase your own unique flair with all kinds of experimental jump styles to try out A good alternative if you’re not keen on the headfirst jumping required of a bungy the swing offers the same thrill while seated upright in a harness much like an old fashioned rope swing from a tree 60m (197ft) from a 109m (358ft) high platform before the 200m (656ft) swing kicks in and leaves you hovering over the river and canyon below There is an infectious and quintessentially Kiwi attitude of play on display here which helps keep you at ease as you embrace the most (self-inflicted) terrifying moment of your life.  before being tossed out of the plane harnessed to a jump master to soak in the phenomenal views.  While skydives are on offer in many locations across the country being up there on par with the height of some of the mountains in the Queenstown basin makes for an even more memorable feat – especially on a crisp winter’s day when they are graced with blankets of snow Detour: If you have some extra time (and energy) after the skydive head a little further down State Hwy 6 to hike Wye Creek Track and Lookout this track is quite the slog uphill through beautiful native beech forest and past the foot of a rock bluff as you follow a water pipeline up to an exposed viewing platform to be rewarded with panoramic views Experienced rock climbers and abseilers can also play up there as this is one of the most popular spots that local and visiting climbers frequent.  A hit of adrenaline doesn't always have to mean falling from the sky Finding your thrills on the water with a white water rafting excursion can be an excellent way to venture into the nooks and crannies of the beautiful local rivers and learn about the unique ecology and geology of the area.  Family Adventures Rafting offers a 5.5-hour experience that takes you deep into the upper reaches of the Shotover River departing from the historic old gold-mining settlement of Skippers The hour-long drive in is all part of the experience and a chance to really become acquainted with the history of Skippers Canyon and what the river was used for when the gold-rush era operations were in full swing.  Once you’re upstream and the adventure is well underway the guides will take you to secret "rafters access only" highlights such as a rock jump and remote river swim While bumping over rogue rapids and getting splashed with icy river water certainly is action-packed this is classed as more of a "soft adventure," which means it’s suitable for brave families and kids ages three and up can be included.  If you’re after something more hardcore, Challenge Rafting offers epic fun for ages 13+ navigating both the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers with rapids ranging from grade 2 to 5 Boating is ubiquitous on the fresh waters in and around Queenstown from locals out waterskiing or wake-boarding on the lake to the speedsters taking their sprint boats out for a sunset hoon down the rivers.  with many jet boat operators serving to satisfy the need for speed A jet boat takes things that extra mile thanks to jet propulsion power systems that draw water in from underneath the boat before pumping it out creating a mighty wake and projecting the vessel forward.  However, if you plan on heading out to Glenorchy during your visit, save your jet boat jaunt for the Dart River. Dart River Adventures has a Wilderness Jet Experience that takes you up the glacier-fed river at the top of Lake Wakatipu into Mt Aspiring National Park Want more time on the water? Hydro Attack’s semi-submersible "shark" boat takes the cake for unique water experiences diving beneath the lake’s surface at 40km/h (25mph) in a small boat that’s like a cross between a water-based fighter jet and a torpedo all while keeping snug behind the glass soaking in nothing but the fun and the views Like the water-based equivalent to mountaineering canyoneering is a unique adventure that involves navigating the water of rivers and gorges by climbing Canyon Explorers provide a super fun half-day excursion just outside of Queenstown that will see you don helmets and life jackets and then descend rivers and streams like you are Bear Grylls on assignment It’s best to do this one in the warm summer months given the ratio of time spent in water vs time being dry And decent fitness and water confidence is definitely required paddling and jumping about in deep and swift waters Don’t mind a bit of dirt or a splash of mud on the cheek Let that universally satisfying "vroom vroom" noise take on even more meaning as you wend your way up and around back country paths and explore the grounds of a private farmland location 3km (1.9 miles) out of town.   OffRoad Adventures are one of the oldest family-run local crews offering sport quad tours and self-drive or guided buggy tours that vary from "learn to ride" to epic multiday trips for those with experience A popular option is to go for either of the 4WD and dirt bike adventures into the "lost city" of Skippers Canyon giving you a chance to really unpack the history and uniqueness of the Queenstown area's gold-rush past as you have your modern-day fun.  If you’ve ticked off all the other boat rides but still feel the burning need for even faster speed, Oxbow is dealing it out in 100km (62 mile) doses Much more startling than your typical ride jet sprint boats can reach velocity in the blink of an eye – 2.5 seconds to be precise To better understand how this differs from the other jet boats think of it like this: if you and racecar driver Michael Schumacher were going head-to-head on a rally track his car is the sprint boat and he’s definitely going to win An excellent option if you’re short on time as the ride only lasts 15 minutes while still a guaranteed gateway to getting your adrenaline-junkie juices flowing You’ll experience up to 4 g-forces as a professional driver navigates you around islands set on their purpose-built water course.  Local tip: Being an artificial course on private land this is a less scenic and iconic setting than the regular jet boat tours it’s also best to stick to a jet boat ride instead Local tip: If you’re visiting in summer, it’ll be far less busy up there, and you can opt for the last flight of the day to watch the golden hour suffuse the mountains as you are suspended below the colorful canopy of a paraglider chute like a little figurine doll.  but a recent announcement introduces even more recognizable names to the lineup The final riders will come from the Natural Selection ‘Dream Ticket’ qualifier at the world-famous Dream Track in central Queenstown on February 7 local talent will compete alongside riders from around the globe for the last four spots at the Natural Selection Bike finals on February 15 The new additions to the already impressive lineup include Red Bull Rampage winners and some of the most recognizable talent in freeride today There is no doubt that NST Bike will be an unforgettable event that you won't want to miss.  “The new venue blends together different styles of the sport which looks like it’s going to be super fun to ride and will hopefully allow all the athletes to show off their different styles of riding.” I’ve been spending lots of time on my freeride bike lately,” says Paul Couderc “I’m very excited to see the venue which I’m pretty sure the diggers killed it on It’s great to have the opportunity to compete in a brand new format and new course; Freeride MTB needed an event like this I feel very grateful to be a part of this sick crew of athletes.”  Tickets for the Natural Selection Bike finals on February 15 are now on sale at Naturalselectionbike.com Queenstown New Zealand has won the right to host an inaugural international conference on landslide risk and geo-education The First International Joint Workshop of JTC1 & JTC3 on Landslide Risk Assessment Communication and Geo-education will take place at the Millennium Hotel Queenstown in April 2026 The bid was led by the New Zealand Geotechnical Society (NZGS) with support from Tourism New Zealand Business Events and Queenstown Convention Bureau it will bring together two international bodies – JTC (Joint Technical Committees)1 Education and Training – for the first time to address the full lifecycle of landslide risk management says both Queenstown’s renowned natural beauty and appeal to international visitors and the surrounding area’s susceptibility to landslides helped to secure the event “Landslides are one of New Zealand’s most significant natural hazards More than 50% of the alpine land around Queenstown is mapped as known landslides with the underlying rock very susceptible to deep seated failures “This event encompasses the need to educate the next generation of landslide risk managers the need to robustly understand landslide risk and the need to communicate that risk to the public and decision-makers so that real change is implemented.” The event is expected to attract up to 350 delegates to Queenstown and deliver more than NZ$900,000 (US$533,000) in economic benefit to the resort town in its off-peak season Tourism New Zealand global manager business events Penelope Ryan says: “This conference is an important profile platform for New Zealand’s leading earth science sector as well as a compelling opportunity to attract international visitation to Queenstown and beyond during one of our off-peak seasons.” The event will incorporate a range of workshops offering an opportunity to connect with the local community and environment You must be logged in to post a comment Issue 136 – May/June 2025 Issue 135 – March/April 2025 Home » Entertainment By Bonginkosi Tiwane SA film The Queenstown Kings has been nominated in a couple of categories for this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards South African football film The Queenstown Kings has bagged notable nominations at this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) The Queenstown Kings is centred on an amateur football team from the township and the journey from playing in the dusty fields in their townships to facing a professional outfit In it,  Xaluva plays the character of Buyile Mahamba, a washed-up soccer star who after the death of his father, returns to rural Queenstown and struggles to connect with his son, a promising player with big dreams. The film Queenstown Kings broke through Netflix’s global Top 10 films when it came out.  “It’s the first African film to do so,” an excited Xaluva told The Citizen at the time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Africa Movie Academy Awards (@amaawards_) who also bagged a nomination in the 20th edition of the AMAA ALSO READ: 48hr International Film Project brings out the best in filmmakers Popularly known as AMAA the awards are presented annually to recognise excellence among professionals, including non-African professionals, who have worked or contributed to the African film industry.  It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run by the Africa Film Academy. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Africa Movie Academy Awards (@amaawards_) South African actress and former wife to Black Coffee Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa whose part of The Quenstown Kings cast is nominated for an AMAA in the Best Supporting Actress role. In the movie, Mlotshwa portrays the character of Xoliswa Gigaba, a former partner of the main character Buyile Mahamba. Unathi Faku and Sandile Mahlangu are competing in the Best Actor in Supporting Role category for their roles in the football film. “It would be a huge pat on the back if either myself or Sandile got the crown. But being nominated is a big deal,” said Faku about his nomination. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Africa Movie Academy Awards (@amaawards_) Mahlangu plays the role of plays of a conniving Mamelodi Sundowns football player The AMAAs are set to be hosted on the first weekend of November at the Balmoral Convention Center in Nigeria ALSO READ: Zolisa Xaluva clears the air on ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ exit rumours The young Faku is elated about the nomination to the AMAAs as it is his first recognition in the industry He plays the character of Fana Gigaba in the film and it means a lot to get validation from my industry peers at such prestigious awards in the continent,” he said Faku was grateful for the opportunity given to him in the film by the director Qubeka.  “Jahmil Qhubeka has been incredibly instrumental in my career and growth He believed in me and pushed me,” averred Faku NOW READ: ‘Thank you for picking me up’: Chidimma Adetshina named Nigerian state ambassador You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. Fire crews have contained a blaze that has left a home "extensively damaged" in Queenstown this afternoon. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman said they were alerted to a large house that was "well-ablaze" in Closeburn about 1.50pm. Eight crews were initially on the scene and another four were responding. In an update shortly before 4pm Fenz said the blaze had been contained to its site, and there were currently 10 crews at the scene. Previously four helicopters were on standby in case the fire spread to nearby forests, but they have been stood down. A Fenz spokesman at the scene said about 50 firefighters attended, from Glenorchy, Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, as well as a command centre from Wanaka. The firefighters were on a rotation roster for using breathing apparatus. A fire investigator was at the scene and the house had been extensively damaged, the spokesman said. No-one was at the house when the fire began and no-one has been injured. Queenstown Back to topAttractionsMust-see attractionsLake Wakatipu Lake Wakatipu is NZ's third-largest lake meaning the lake bed actually sits below sea… Skyline Gondola Hop aboard for fantastic views as the gondola squeezes through pine forest to its grandstand location 400m above Queenstown Queenstown Gardens Set on its own tongue of land framing Queenstown Bay this pretty park is the perfect city escape right within the city Kiwi Birdlife Park These 2 hectares are home to 10,000 native plants tuatara (an endemic reptile) and scores of birds Time Tripper Located in the old underwater observatory beneath the main pier this 30-minute experience promises a journey back in time Peregrine peregrine by design…the award-winning construction of the cellar door shaped a bit like a falcon's wing in flight St Peter's on Church St has colourful stained glass and an impressive gilded and painted organ View more attractionsPlanning ToolsExpert guidance to help you plan your tripBest Things to Do Queenstown in New Zealand is loved by adrenaline junkies. Here's our guide to the town's top adventure activities. Plan with a localExperience the real New Zealand Get startedArticlesLatest stories from QueenstownRead more articlesActivities Queenstown in New Zealand is loved by adrenaline junkies Here's our guide to the town's top adventure activities Get to the heart of Queenstown with one of our in-depth Visit in ShopNew Zealand's South Island $24.99 Visit in ShopNew Zealand's North Island $24.99 Go to checkout (0 items)in partnership with getyourguide Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said the 33-year-old overseas national had been taken to Queenstown Lakes Hospital in a critical condition after he was found on Turner St at around 6am on Tuesday. "Police are making urgent enquiries to determine how the man came to be injured," he said. The man appeared to be in the vicinity of Turner and Hallenstein streets from around 2am. Wilkinson said: "Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time who may have information to assist the investigation." Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105. St John said it was notified of the incident but that its assistance was not required. Turner St, Queenstown. (Source: Google Maps) Police are investigating after a man was found critically injured on a Queenstown street with serious head injuries this morning. Controls lifted at Otago poultry farm after bird flu virus eradicated The highly pathogenic bird flu strain H7N6 was detected in poultry at a commercial egg farm in Otago in early December last year Health Lambs euthanised after stock truck rolls in Otago Emergency services were called to the crash at 12.38pm on State Highway 1 between Clinton and Balclutha New Zealand 'Fly high wee little man': Dunedin boy A family friend said he was "a bright and adventurous little boy who filled every room with joy" Dunedin museum closed after cracks found in chimney stack The Gasworks Museum will be closed for at least a week while an assessment is carried out Wild Dunedin festival claims national mass yoga record A sea of yoga mats filled Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin as 623 people moved through downward dog in unison Otago University removes artist John Middleditch's sculpture A sculpture by the convicted child sex offender has been removed from the university's Dunedin campus Crime and Justice Auditor-General launches probe into school lunches 27 mins ago Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office 39 mins ago Police plea after 'oversight' left Bondi killer without help 2:18pm Sullivan's four-try onslaught highlights Chiefs' vulnerabilities 2:03pm Watch question time live as Parliament resumes after recess 1:53pm Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student 10 mins ago 1Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon Police are investigating after a man was found critically injured on a Queenstown street with serious head injuries this morning Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said the 33-year-old overseas national had been taken to Queenstown Lakes Hospital in a critical condition after he was found on Turner St at around 6am on Tuesday "Police are making urgent enquiries to determine how the man came to be injured," he said The man appeared to be in the vicinity of Turner and Hallenstein streets from around 2am Anyone with relevant information should contact police on 105 St John said it was notified of the incident but that its assistance was not required Strict movement controls have been lifted from an Otago poultry farm following the eradication of a pathogenic strain of avian influenza in chickens at the premises The highly pathogenic bird flu strain H7N6 was detected in poultry at Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove Farm in early December prompting restrictions to be put in place and the culling of tens of thousands of chickens in the weeks following Minsitry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to implement strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) chief veterinary officer Mary Van Andel said more than 5600 tests have been carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property "HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out," she said "The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated." "While there is still work to be done the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business." Van Andel thanked Mainland Poultry for notifying MPI promptly when the disease was suspected and working to stamp it out successfully "Good progress is being made to restore trade with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.” Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard praised the collaboration among industries and "rapid action" taken to contain and stamp out the disease "Rapid action on behalf of the farmer and MPI to stand up a response and restrict movements paid off Tracing did not detect any HPAI-infected chickens beyond the farm where the disease originated He said this has been "important work" as New Zealand's robust biosecurity system and the relative freedom from pests and disease plays a role in farmers' competitive advantage "This was the first detection of HPAI in New Zealand and it tested some of the plans that are being developed for the arrival of HPAI H5N1 "It certainly provides a timely reminder that all New Zealanders have a role to play in being prepared and that is through strong biosecurity as an essential first line of defence." A seven-year-old Dunedin boy who died after a car crash in the Catlins has been described as a "bright Police have named O'siah Prasad as the boy who died after a single-vehicle crash at Ōwaka last month More than $10,000 has been donated to honour his memory and help support his family through a Givealittle page A family friend who created the page said his presence brought so much love and warmth and his loss had left an unimaginable void and adventurous little boy who filled every room with joy." friends and family described as a handsome I enjoyed getting to know you and I was proud to be your big buddy at school last year I will miss seeing you around at school," one person said Another said their heart had shattered for his whānau The cause of the crash was being investigated rnz.co.nz Dunedin’s Gasworks Museum will close for at least a week while an assessment is carried out after cracks were discovered in the site's chimney stack A member of the public last week noticed a lightning rod running up the structure “was no longer flush with the brickwork” Dunedin City Council group manager property services Anna Nilsen said A drone assessment found recent cracks in the brickwork “The chimney is regularly inspected and, while we can’t be sure, we suspect the cracks may have been caused by last month’s large 6.8 magnitude earthquake." centred off the southwest coast of the South Island was felt by thousands when it struck on the afternoon of March 25 made the decision to close the site as a "precautionary measure" while further investigations were underway “The closure will be for an initial period of one week while we assess the situation and consider options “This also has the potential to impact surrounding businesses and we’re working proactively to keep everyone informed.” Nilsen said the museum acknowledged the disruption to businesses “We’ll be working as quickly as we can to confirm next steps and we’ll know more over the coming days.” The council has asked for an engineer’s report on the structure A sea of yoga mats filled Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin as 623 people moved through downward dog in unison today setting a new national record for the largest yoga gathering The one-hour mass yoga session launched the NatureDome celebration part of the Wild Dunedin Festival of Nature and Jenna McLaughlin led the one-hour session which drew participants from across Otago and as far away as Christchurch said Wild Dunedin marketing manager Charlie Buchan Buchan claimed the turnout more than doubled the previous national record of 300 The yoga session was one of over 150 events featured at the festival which aims to connect people with the natural world through activities across the city Thousands visited the NatureDome throughout the day and a family screening of Disney's Moana Entertainer Suzy Cato teamed up with singer Anika Moa for a live performance and led children in singing a specially written rock anthem Buchan said the success of the yoga session and wider festival reflected the growing interest in nature-based community events "The success of the NatureDome and the record-breaking yoga session is something we're immensely proud of It's not only a fantastic boost for the local community and wider region but a national achievement for a festival that New Zealand can be proud of," he said rnz.co.nz Warning: This story deals with child sexual abuse A sculpture by convicted child sex offender John Middleditch has been removed from the University of Otago's Dunedin campus prominent artist was convicted in December 1976 of eight charges of indecently assaulting girls aged between eight and 11 who accused Middleditch of sexually abusing her as a child in the 1970s complained about his artwork on display at Dunedin Hospital The university said it removed the Eleven Bronze Rods Supporting Albatross Wingspan sculpture on Friday after reviewing its ownership of the artwork Registrar Dr David Clark said a panel agreed to remove the sculpture aligned with its commitment to provide a safe environment given the knowledge they now had about Middleditch's offending and convictions "Knowledge of this offending changes the nature of the relationship between the university community and the work concerned and its removal from public display reflects a need to re-think the place that the work has in the university," Clark said The six-person panel consulted a wide range of people and included sexual violence support and prevention expertise The panel was expected to finish its final report in the next few weeks and Clark confirmed the university would review any further recommendations and a plaque naming him in front of his water fountain sculpture at Dunedin Hospital were removed RNZ has contacted Tūhura Otago Museum about its intentions with the convicted sex offender's artwork rnz.co.nz The Auditor-General's office has announced plans for an inquiry into the school lunch programme that has drawn criticism since a revamp It will cover Ministry of Education planning procurement and contract implementation under David Seymour's alternative model Terms of reference for the inquiry set out its scope: The Auditor-General's office said it decided to investigate because of concerns raised about aspects of the revised lunch programme and what the Ministry communicated with previous providers," it said "Because of the importance of these services we have decided to carry out an inquiry." the Office noted the ministry had in October last year awarded a two-year contract to the School Lunch Collective under which lunches would be provided for $3 each The ministry was also reported to have paid a further $8.9m to the collective for Year 9 and older students which had been part of the School Lunch Collective A further $4m grant was provided to KidsCan for a food programme in Early Childhood Education services rnz.co.nz A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A coroner is likely to recommend improvements after an overworked police force failed to connect a mass killer to the mental health system before his unprovoked attack had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen and was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he killed six people and injured 10 at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024 An inquest has been told Queensland Police had a number of chances to plug him back into mental health treatment and medication ahead of the tragedy Cauchi was homeless and living apart from his family in Toowoomba when he was shot dead by police during his stabbing rampage He had stopped taking his medication in 2019 and stopped seeing a psychiatrist in 2020 Queensland police officers made several calls for change including greater numbers of mental health officers within the force They also suggested that laws regarding when mentally ill people could be forced to take an involuntary psychiatric examination be amended to be less confusing manager of the Queensland police's vulnerable persons unit said the changes were needed to prevent the criminalisation of those with mental illness "Mental health shouldn't just be a police response," he told the NSW Coroners Court "It's a no-brainer to me that there should be appropriate responses that are health-led." Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer said that changing legislation around police powers was "shaping up to be a significant recommendation" at the inquest This week's evidence has focused on one particular incident in January 2023 when Cauchi called police to his family's Toowoomba home He accused his father Andrew of stealing his collection of knives telling attending officers that they had to be returned or he would become bankrupt or homeless A follow-up visit to the Cauchi family home was requested and the fill-in police mental health incident co-ordinator for the Darling Downs region saw the email — but he forgot to action it due to an "oversight" the co-ordinator he was filling in for backed the officer "His oversight on that email is devastating," she said "It's not indicative of him as an officer or how he performed my role." She also backed a call for further assistance saying police officers were under greater pressure due to increasing numbers of call-outs relating to mental health despite not being trained in this area "If it's not bleeding and it's not on fire the police are the people who have to attend," she said police were called to Cauchi's unit in Brisbane after residents heard a man screaming and the sound of someone being hit He told attending officers that he had been slamming his fridge Cauchi was also pulled over three times in 2020 and 2021 by highway patrol police for erratic driving The Chiefs are putting their faith in first-five Damian McKenzie recovering from a hand injury in time to play the Crusaders in what is a pivotal game in Christchurch on Saturday But just as important to the Super Rugby Pacific leaders will be improving a defence which leaked 26 unanswered points in the second half of their 35-17 defeat to the Hurricanes It was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by a usually highly consistent side who retained their place at the top of the table thanks to their superior points differential compared with the Crusaders the Chiefs face Moana Pasifika in Hamilton and the Highlanders in Dunedin in the run in to the playoffs – games very much in the winnable category although the former have surprised a few this season The Crusaders’ run-in features the Waratahs in Sydney the Highlanders in Christchurch and a potentially difficult trip to Canberra to play the third-placed Brumbies Every team has looked vulnerable at times this season The Crusaders’ two losses came against the Chiefs in Hamilton and a shock defeat to Moana Pasifika — both heavy although they did escape a Hurricanes’ comeback in Wellington in round nine They also needed two James O’Connor penalties in the final 10 minutes to beat the Blues a week later But the Chiefs’ downfall at the weekend was as unexpected as it was spectacular after they led 17-9 at the break Replacement wing Bailyn Sullivan made history when scoring all four of the Hurricanes’ tries after the break as the home side too easily unlocked the Chiefs’ defence via a long pass a break through Cortez Ratima and Shaun Stevenson close to the line an excellent wide cross-kick by Ruben Love and a shorter grubber kick by Riley Higgins Getting McKenzie back on the field after he missed the last two weekends for the Chiefs will be important for their game management but a Crusaders attack that ran in six tries against the Highlanders last time out will threaten them in different ways the Crusaders may be without All Black Will Jordan Jordan has played in all 10 Crusaders matches this season and head coach Rob Penney has been guarded about Jordan's rest plan of his All Blacks No.10 McKenzie: “Everything's tracking in the direction that he should be available but we won't count our chickens before they hatch.” the defending champion Blues must win in Suva against the Drua to force their way back into the playoffs mix after being overtaken for the sixth and final spot by Moana Pasifika Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin – their first win over the southerners in another Ardie Savea-inspired performance Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate Vandals in four-wheel drives have mown down 38 pōhutukawa trees on Napier’s Marine Parade The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees She said the council was concerned at the behaviour and said an early estimate to replace the damage came to $20,000 "These trees were planted for our community by the Rotary Club as a gift over the past five years," Wise said "There are lots of community groups who work alongside us to make sure Napier has places and spaces that are beautiful and welcoming and Rotary is a key partner in projects like this one "It is heartbreaking to see community resources time and energy treated in this way," she said "The damage was done by people in 4WD vehicles after removing the vehicle barriers and driving over the trees Our parks' team is looking closely at the cost to replace them and at how to ensure the trees are kept safe." recently erected along Marine Parade to keep vehicles off the beach but there was no evidence to suggest the vandalism was related to that to be installed from the National Aquarium of NZ to the Pump Track were to prevent vehicles from tearing up the grass and destroying trees fishermen profiled in a Hawke’s Bay Today article last week said it was a case of blocking their access to prevent "idiots" "It’s not going to stop the idiots doing the damage," one noted Napier City Council has reported the incident to police Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Police are investigating after a man was found lying on a Queenstown street with serious head injuries early today The 33-year-old overseas national has been taken to Queenstown Lakes Hospital in a critical condition after he was found in Turner St about 6am “Police are making urgent inquiries to determine how the man came to be injured,” a police statement said “It appears he was in the vicinity of Turner St and Hallenstein St and police would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time who may have information to assist the investigation.” The Otago Daily Times reports that the man may have fallen down a steep bank and that a blood-stained shirt was at the scene this morning beside a pair of shoes and a pool of blood Anyone with information should call police on 105 and quote file number 250429/8686 The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Queenstown SMC against the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR) PAP's Eric Chua received 20,900 votes while PAR's Mahaboob Batcha received 4,864 votes Chua had campaigned for a more caring and vibrant Queenstown continuing the support for seniors and lower-income families along with organising hawkers’ and seniors’ festivals pushed for estate upgrades and improved transport connectivity in the constituency In a Facebook post made in the early hours of Sunday (May 4) Chua thanked voters for their trust and said it was an honour to be re-elected "Regardless of whether I had your vote to keep and to earn your trust," he said Queenstown SMC is a newly formed constituency this year carved out from Tanjong Pagar GRC into a single seat For our GE2025 microsite, visit here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Strong crosswinds caused major disruption at Queenstown Airport on Monday Air New Zealand said at least 10 flights in and out of the South Island destination were cancelled in the afternoon A spokesperson said affected customers were being rebooked and it was hoped conditions would improve Monday night as forecast both in and out of Queenstown respectively MetService's website said strong southerlies in the town were easing in the evening and rain was clearing Meanwhile wild weather was on its way for parts of the country for the school holidays Auckland and the Coromandel likely to be the first hit The weather event would extend to the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne as the week progressed Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday northeast winds and rain will begin to build over the upper North Island All passengers had to be rescreened following the security breach Moving to once-a-day milking has helped Janet Fleming through Taranaki's recent drought New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 2024 2:39 PM EDTAs cities around the world grapple with congestion and seek to lower emissions one New Zealand-based startup is looking upward for solutions Whoosh will begin construction on a gondola-like ride-hailing network in a 370-acre area of tourism hot spot Queenstown—the first of its kind While gondolas transport lifts by moving the entire cableway each Whoosh cabin uses an electric motor to propel itself along a stationary network of cables and rails at an average speed of about 26 m.p.h.  Powering the cabins themselves means the guideway can be “really simple low-cost infrastructure,” Whoosh CEO Chris Allington says The pods have a mechanism that allows them to switch from cables to suspended rails at speed Whoosh can take flexible routes from pickup to drop-off without stopping expected to be up and running as part of the pilot scheme by 2027 could help reduce travel times and are twice as efficient as the most economical electric cars Users will be able to hail rides on demand using an app or ticket-vending machines Queenstown is the ideal testing ground “because it’s got horrendous traffic,” but it’s at a manageable scale If the network were expanded across the city it would have the capacity to take about “20% of vehicles off the road,” he says Read more: How Cities Are Clamping Down on Traffic to Help Fight Emissions Each cabin will be complete with a stabilization system that smooths rides in windy conditions and smart-glass windows can frost over to stop riders from peering into homes as they glide past While providers will ultimately set the cost for riders Allington says that he expects it to be more expensive than mass transit but cheaper than an Uber.  Allington says the cabins are more energy efficient than other vehicles because they avoid energy--wasting actions like braking or idling in traffic Whoosh says it uses roughly one-sixth the energy of a U.S A one-hour ride uses “about the same amount of energy as having a 10-minute shower,” Allington says And the infrastructure the pods glide across has roughly a fifth of the embodied carbon—the total emissions associated with materials and construction—of ground-level rail networks and many a futuristic transport idea has fizzled in implementation But the company already has its sights set on the U.S and DeSoto—are being considered for potential sites of Whoosh’s first U.S which is in talks with public- and private-sector customers they realize they’re stuck,” says Swyft Cities CEO Jeral Poskey Part of what makes Whoosh a compelling option is that it can be “retrofitted into cities,” with its modular infrastructure allowing it to start small and grow over time Read More: From Scooters to Microtransit, Cities Are Embracing Alternatives to Short Car Trips none of the high-tech innovations that fly or drive themselves or go through tunnels are really designed to solve the problem that most of the world is facing,” Poskey says offers a solution for those in the middle ground “We find that people want to live in medium-density areas,” Poskey says but “they just aren’t well supported by either automobiles or mass transit.”  Contact us at letters@time.com Anneli De Los Santos pictured leaving the Hamilton District Court last year after pleading guilty to multiple charges relating to the Wānaka crash Anneli De Los Santos, 50, landed in the resort town with friends and family members, including her sister Joyce Fesico The group had two vehicles between them and De Los Santos drove one De Los Santos was driving to Wānaka when she failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and her vehicle crossed the centre line and went into the path of a minibus who were touring the South Island with a driver died in the crash and De Los Santos’ 47-year-old front passenger suffered head and facial injuries and was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital along with a 70-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy from the minibus De Los Santos appeared in Hamilton District Court for sentencing on a charge of careless driving causing the death of her sister and four charges of careless driving causing injury Defence lawyer Rob Quin said it was a case of De Los Santos “driving on unfamiliar roads in an unfamiliar vehicle” and she had suffered the most tragic loss Quin said it was also caused by De Los Santos’ momentary inattention “This comes down to a momentary lapse of attention driving an unfamiliar vehicle on unfamiliar roads at a time which should have been extremely happy for Ms De Los Santos and her family which has unfortunately turned to tragedy.” But Community Magistrate Ngaire Mascelle wasn’t so sure and from her reading of the summary of facts A serious crash report ruled fatigue was a factor in the crash as the family had travelled to Queenstown from Hamilton “very early” that morning they toured Queenstown before heading to Wānaka via Crown Range Rd De Los Santos failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and her vehicle went into the path of the minibus The minibus driver tried to avoid the collision by turning his vehicle to the right as De Los Santos’ vehicle continued across the southbound lane But the front left sides of both vehicles collided and De Los Santos’ hit the road before spinning 180 degrees and coming to rest on the fog line The minibus stopped in the centre of the road facing the same way it had come from Members of the public provided care to the victims as they waited for emergency services Fesico was found unresponsive She’d suffered unsurvivable spine and chest injuries and died at the scene The pair injured in the minibus were both asleep at the time of the crash and suffered fractures and internal bleeding The remaining minibus passengers were not injured but were taken to Queenstown Hospital for assessment According to court documents obtained by NZME De Los Santos told police she could recall driving along Crown Range Rd but couldn’t remember the lead-up to the collision or explain why she crossed the centre line Quin told Mascelle that although De Los Santos was a New Zealand resident she had been living and working in Qatar as an administrator for a medical supplies company she travelled to the Philippines to attend her sister’s funeral before returning to New Zealand to appear in court not to push for a sentence of community work as it would be too onerous on his client as she would have to fly to Qatar and back He said her family had sorted a reparation payment but the minibus tourists were not interested in receiving monetary compensation for their medical expenses “They are extremely supportive of Ms De Los Santos .. Mascelle said the crash involved “a rather unique set of circumstances” given it was De Los Santos’ sister suffering the most consequence of all and the other victims were “very sympathetic” and not asking anything of her “I realise you lost your sister in the incident She referred to the summary of facts and noted De Los Santos “had maybe briefly drifted off [asleep]” while driving referring to the vehicle having veered across the centre line and staying there “There was no suggestion of there being any aversion attempt,” she said the error in your judgment has caused someone to lose their life so it’s impacted in the most tragic way on so many lives and yours included.” Mascelle accepted De Los Santos was remorseful and had no previous convictions She said no sentence would make De Los Santos suffer any more than she currently was “I am able to step back from a community work sentence.” De Los Santos was convicted and discharged and disqualified from driving for 18 months Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato She has worked at NZME for 10 years and has been a journalist for 21 The tourism industry is hopeful a funding boost will help get visitor numbers back on track and encourage people to see more of the country The government wants to "turbocharge" global marketing to international visitors, with a new $13.5 million investment in Tourism New Zealand Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan told Morning Report times were tough but recovery post-pandemic was always going to be a marathon not a sprint "International tourism is incredibly important because international tourists spend more heavily than New Zealanders do and they spend at times that we don't spend during work weeks and during the school term." Investment was necessary on both fronts - attracting people to New Zealand's shores and improving the cities they visited then we need to do the marketing to get people to use them and fill them up," Doolan said The government said funding would initially be used to attract more visitors from China Chinese visitor numbers have not rebounded since Covid But Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods told Morning Report the data also showed more people from China were visiting independently He said with new investment, there would be opportunities to attract visitors to popular spots and then send them further afield "Queenstown is a drawcard for international visitors and we know that one in three of all international visitors will come and visit Queenstown but if we think about that regional dispersal there's actually quite a lot of capacity within New Zealand to move the visitors around." Woods said the colder months made some spots more appealing The Labour Party's tourism spokesperson Glen Bennett said investment was not just about the posters but also about looking after the places people visited He said there needed to be a focus on sustainability the lakes and the glaciers which enticed people to New Zealand were pristine and more funding should go towards better infrastructure at tourist hot spots The initial investment would focus on encouraging visitors from a number of specific countries local government and Māori tourism representatives are banding together in a push to ensure the final sections of a "nationally significant" cycle trail are completed Queenstown has been suffering from growing pains for years but with visitor and resident numbers continuing to swell it's turning into a full-blown belly ache The recent BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Services Index (PSI) shows activity is slowing in the sector Let's Talk Kōrero Mai (previously Scuttlebutt) is our bi-monthly newsletter which goes out to residents and ratepayers Training opportunities and tips for preparing funding applications available now A Parkinson's Disease specialist care programme Find out what’s happening with Annual Plan 2025-2026 Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is calling on the community to get involved in a draft tree succession plan for Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens to help protect this much-loved community asset and ensure it remains a resilient and diverse environment for future generations to enjoy QLDC General Manager Community & Services Ken Bailey said the draft plan sets out steps to manage aging wilding pines in the Gardens over the next 60 years and deciduous trees and plants to the area “Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens is an unparalleled environment that locals and visitors love whether it’s for a lunch break walk or run around the leafy surroundings or the simple enjoyment of exploring this spectacular space,” said Mr Bailey approximately five hectares of wilding conifer trees sit within the Gardens and as these trees near the end of their lives we need to have a plan in place to ensure we protect the area while taking the opportunity to transition to a more sustainable and diverse shelterbelt.” Wilding conifers in Queenstown Gardens play a crucial role in acting as a windbreak to shield the area from wild weather but their invasive nature and advancing age pose several significant threats to the landscape’s long-term health The dense canopy of these trees blocks sunlight and reduces native flora and fauna they drop needle litter that results in poor soil health and their location on the peninsula near Queenstown creates a significant seed spread risk for a tree being battled with throughout the district Mr Bailey added the draft Tree Succession Plan looks at removing these aging wilding conifers in stages and across multiple zones to ensure new plants introduced in the area have time to adapt to the windy environment “As we selectively thin and remove wilding trees in different parts of Queenstown Gardens the succession plan includes steps to rapidly introduce new plants fast-growing and ecologically resilient forest,” said Mr Bailey and mānuka will be used to restore soil structure and support the growth of future planting and southern rātā to provide additional wind shelter as quickly as possible while creating new wildlife habitat Carefully selected exotic species and deciduous trees that are tall and non-invasive will also be planted to further protect the wider area from wind The draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan, a range of supporting material and a feedback form are available online at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/ and in QLDC’s offices and library at 10 Gorge Road QLDC’s Parks team will also be hosting two presentations and a community-drop in session in April in Queenstown Gardens for those keen to discuss the approach with staff and as these wilding conifers in Queenstown Gardens are nearing the end of their lives now is the perfect time to put a plan in place to protect this amazing area and ensure it flourishes for future generations to enjoy,” said Mr Bailey “I’d encourage regular users of Queenstown Gardens and visitors to this stunning space to check out the draft plan come chat to our staff about the approach at the community drop-in session Feedback on the draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan closes on Monday Once feedback has been gathered and reviewed the draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan is expected to be presented to QLDC’s Community & Services Committee for adoption in August 2025 Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802 Draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/99997/widgets/460385/documents/306584 Summary of the Draft Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Tree Succession Plan: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/99997/widgets/460385/documents/307021 Appendix 2: Succession plan maintenance schedule for Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/99997/widgets/460385/documents/306585 Appendix 3: Species selection guide: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/99997/widgets/460385/documents/306586 Appendix 4: Soil enhancement techniques and best practices: https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/99997/widgets/460385/documents/306587 6.00pm – 7.00pmLocation: Queenstown Bowls Club 1.00pm – 2.00pmLocation: Queenstown Bowls Club Community drop-in sessionDate: Monday 28 April 12.00pm – 1.00pm Location: Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens Subscribe for Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/B510C2BAC2D346BB Privacy Policy  Media Centre Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Queenstown Multicultural Festival Trust (QMFT) are delighted to bring back the Queenstown Multicultural Festival on 15 March from 10.00am to 6.00pm at the Queenstown Events Centre QMFT Lead Organiser Eric Lim encouraged the community to share in a vibrant celebration of the district’s rich cultural tapestry creativity and community spirit that makes our place a truly global village,” said Mr Lim “We’re expecting a big crowd this year with around 54 vendors including 41 diverse food stalls and 13 cultural booths QMFT is partnering with QLDC for its third annual gathering since 2022 Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers said it’s been fantastic to see the festival grow into one of the district’s most valued events arts and stories from around the world come to life “This year the festival aligns with New Zealand Race Relations Day learn from each other and enjoy the richness of our diverse communities,” said Mayor Lewers “I’d encourage everyone in our community to take the opportunity to experience this unique festival and maybe even discover something new,” he said 21 March also marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which is observed globally QLDC Welcoming Communities Coordinator Silvia Dancose said she was excited to see the festival come to life after seeing the huge efforts behind the scenes by a team of committed volunteers “I know this will be a day packed with culture and fun judging by all the hard work by our community volunteers and I really hope the wider community will come along to show their support,” said Ms Dancose “We are proud to support such a wonderful event that brings the community together and encourages a welcoming and inclusive community,” she said Mr Lim also encouraged attendees to embrace a go-green mindset by biking or walking to the festival whenever possible In collaboration with the Lightfoot Initiative a dedicated bike parking area will be available at the venue making it easier for festivalgoers to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the event Head to www.queenstownmulticulturalfestival.co.nz/ to find out more Multicultural Festival Organiser: info@queenstownmulticulturalfestival.co.nz or call 021 143 1332 The Queenstown Multicultural Festival is one of the actions included in the Queenstown Lakes District Welcoming Plan 2024-2027 To read the Queenstown Lakes District Welcoming Plan 2024-2027 go to www.qldc.govt.nz/community/welcoming-communities To get in touch with the festival organisers head to info@queenstownmulticulturalfestival.co.nz  The Queenstown Multicultural Festival event welcomes koha (donations) QLDC's Environmental Health team is supporting community food vendors by providing food safety training and a brochure on Food Safety Tips translated into multiple languages which can be found at www.qldc.govt.nz/food-safety QMFT is a recipient of the annual QLDC Events Grant. The 2025 Events Grant will be open for applications 1-30 April. More details here www.qldc.govt.nz/events-fund Queenstown Multicultural Festival 2023 photo images to be credited to Tomomi Ito. For more choices of images please contact the Multicultural Festival Organiser: info@queenstownmulticulturalfestival.co.nz or call 021 143 1332 The Warkworth man was on holiday in Queenstown when the accident happened A young man is in critical condition after falling from a Queenstown balcony in a “freak accident” where the glass railing he was leaning on collapsed Two ambulances and two helicopters responded to the incident at a holiday home on Frankton Rd The Warkworth man was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital A Givealittle page for the man and his family described the incident as a “freak accident” while on holiday A glass balustrade he was leaning on “gave out” A relative wrote that the man fell from a “significant height and has suffered horrific and life-changing injuries” He suffered a “major brain injury” and was put in an induced coma and has multiple broken bones in his back and neck Police were called to a property about 6.30pm on the day of the accident “Initial enquiries have established that a portion of the balcony gave way “Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing Sergeant Simon Matheson told Lakes Weekly there was no evidence that any person had caused the incident The Queenstown Lakes District Council said it extended its sympathy to the injured person “Council is liaising with police to support its investigation into the cause of the incident,” a council spokesperson said “Council is addressing its own inquiries under the Building Act 2004 to assess building safety and will undertake any action it considers appropriate in the circumstances to ensure this.” WorkSafe confirmed it was notified of the incident and made initial inquiries A spokesperson said it had not opened an investigation “as the local council and New Zealand Police are best placed to respond” Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday A list of services being held can be found below 10.00am parade from Arrowtown Hall to the Cenotaph on top of Durham Street.  The service at the Cenotaph starts from 10.30am the service will be held inside Arrowtown Hall There will also be golf carts at Durham Street to assist those who need it up to the monument National Anthem and bagpipes played on Edith Cavell Bridge from 12.00pm Traffic management in place to support the service Remembrance service from 9.30am at the war memorial by Glenorchy Hall Morning tea held inside the hall afterwards Dawn service at ANZAC Peninsula on the Lake Hāwea Dam from 7.00am Community asked to arrive between 6.30-6.45am Dawn service at Memorial Gates located on Marine Parade from 6.30am Followed by a march to Queenstown Memorial Centre where wreaths will be laid Dawn service on edge of Lake Wānaka adjacent to the town centre from 7.00am followed by a community breakfast in the Armstrong Room at Lake Wānaka Centre Civic service held at Lake Wānaka Centre from 9.30am followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience is one of the world’s most famous mountain town destinations It has branded itself the “Adventure Capital of the World,” due in part to being the birthplace of commercial bungy jumping After spending two weeks exploring Queenstown here’s my uncensored take on this iconic destination Despite doing a fair bit of research before landing in Queenstown, I was still astounded by the incredible beauty of the views directly from downtown. Most of the mountain bike photos and footage from Queenstown are taken on or near the famous (and incredibly scenic) Rude Rock trail but the terrain Rude Rock passes through is high on a mountainside lies along the shores of expansive Lake Wakatipu with waters ranging from clear blue to emerald towering mountains rise directly from the water’s edge Most of the development is confined to the Queenstown side of the lake with the opposite side being wild and ruggedly beautiful and glaciated peaks on the distant ends of the lake are truly breathtaking The closest comparison I can come up with in the USA are the views of Lake Tahoe I’m more closely reminded of my time spent along the fjords of Norway — especially the deeper you travel into the nearby wilderness the city itself can feel chaotic and crowded with tourists from all corners of the globe There is a particular emphasis on tourism from Australia and travelers from other European countries also make themselves known As one of the most famous mountain destinations in the world Queenstown is also the #1 tourist destination in New Zealand I asked numerous locals if they think New Zealand in general and Queenstown in particular are over-touristed and the responses varied depending on the person the consensus is that if there’s one place that’s threatening to buckle from the weight of visitation when speaking with locals in the tourism industry with a global perspective they shared that the challenges New Zealand contends with are nothing compared to cities like Venice and Barcelona the crowds Queenstown has to cope with are still manageable and the local government is working diligently to chart a path forward so that it will continue to be sustainable in the future you won’t be shocked by the throngs of tourists downtown or the commercial offerings on every street corner when you visit And if you can look past the clamor of tourism and commercial enterprises you’ll find endless kilometers of rad mountain bike trails to explore I’ve become too quick to assume that every famous mountain bike destination will offer a bevy of trails for all types of riders no matter the type of mountain biking they enjoy While it seems like this is the case in many famous North American destinations as I started exploring the trails in Queenstown I had to be reminded that this is not true for all destinations Morzine, France It’s one of the most famous mountain bike destinations in the Alps There are essentially zero pedal-accessed trails in the region Queenstown isn’t quite as bad as Morzine but I still had to dig deep to find a few rides worth the cranking Here are five fantastic trail rides I discovered outside the bike parks in Queenstown The Dirty Four route is a ripping descent from the top of Coronet Peak to the bottom of the valley far below. While only six miles (10km) long, this fantastic trail plummets down 3,700 feet (1,127m) of vertical in that distance. The classic route follows the Dirt Serpent, Rude Rock if you do complete the entire “Dirty Four” route you’ll begin in the Coronet Bike Park and then descend out of the park you can choose to skip the lift and begin the ride at the top of Rude Rock If you simply want to run the Dirty Four from the top of the mountain to the base and don’t want to spend an entire day in the bike park you can also choose to book a shuttle and a single-ride lift ticket to get you all the way to the top Rude Rock is famous for a reason: this gorgeous trail hugs an iconic ridgeline with spectacular views in all directions And this isn’t just a historic backcountry trail: instead all four segments of the Dirty Four are purpose-built flow trails with superb berms the quality of the jumps improves the lower down the trail you go Even though you drop almost 3,700 vertical feet Fernhill is located directly adjacent to the Ben Lomond trails but this distinct trail system provides a fantastic — albeit steep — pedal ride from downtown Queenstown continue climbing on Beeched As to reach the McGazza memorial on top of the mountainside you have a variety of descent options ranging from grade 4 to potentially grade 6 At the end of BluGazi riders will reach a landing and trail hub While there are a few options for completing the descent the McNearly Gnarly flow trail is one of the true local classics: a perfectly-sculpted grade 3 jump trail It is arguably one of the best-built jump tracks in all of Queenstown This impression could be due to the fact that I rode it literally the day after the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club (QMTBC) finished rebuilding the track so it was in absolutely pristine condition The QMTBC is responsible for maintaining and building Queenstown’s incredible trail system and the quality of their work is impeccable While staying in historic Arrowtown at the Arrowtown Lodge I pieced together a loop using trail maps that turned out way better than anticipated My wife and I pedaled out of Arrowtown using the gravel valley paths to reach the Dan O Connell Climb trail which grinds up the mountainside adjacent to Hot Rod and Morning Glory — the bottom two segments of the Dirty Four We cranked our way up to the junction with the paved road and enjoyed a well-earned snack admiring the views of the valley below before dropping into the fantastic jumps on Morning Glory While you could choose to rip all the way down (and thus have a true pedal-driven singletrack loop on part of the Dirty Four without dealing with shuttles), at the end of Morning Glory, we turned left to traverse across the mountainside on Coronet Face Water Race which was used to divert natural streams toward nearby mining operations The views from this elevated ridgeline turned out to be spectacular and the quality of the singletrack was equally superb The narrow trail winds across the mountain While most of the trail was exposed with great views in a few spots it dropped into a narrow valley passing below a small waterfall and winding through towering trees before popping back out into a meadow the trail skirts below towering cliffs formed of schist rock After passing through a saddle, we dropped into Bush Creek for the final descent of the ride This natural-style backcountry trail is open to two-way traffic as the multitude of signs telling us to “slow down” emphasized this classic backcountry descent was too fun to go too slow we only saw a handful of people on this trail It seems like all the riders are too enamored of the purpose-built flow trails to bother with historic singletrack anymore The 7 Mile Riding Area is located right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu This tightly-wound network of singletrack is rideable all year long providing Queenstown locals a welcome singletrack escape even during the doldrums of winter The network is divided into two halves: flow and tech The features and the flow (or lack thereof) feel quite similar to the flat The flow side of the network is what you’d imagine with some fantastic intermediate jump lines there’s more woodwork to be found at 7 Mile than in most other places in Queenstown the short Buck Land trail has some rad wooden bridges 7 Mile doesn’t offer much in the way of sustained pedaling, so for a longer loop consider beginning at the same trailhead (Wilson’s Bay) peaceful multi-use track enjoyed by bikers and walkers alike,” said Nikki Atkinson “It is an undulating track that takes you right around the outskirts of the lake with a great viewpoint at the top of the lake and surrounding mountains.” The rip back down the mountainside follows a backcountry-style trail past Dispute Lake that’s mostly singletrack this remote section of trail is also remarkably beautiful The Dispute Lake trail “then links up with Phoenix which is a fun MTB-only grade 3 trail that pops you out at Wilson’s Bay meaning you can end your ride with a refreshing dip in the lake!” The Sherwood is an eco-friendly hotel that offers so much more than mere accommodation Beautiful rooms encircle a courtyard with a common area and amenities like a yoga room and a sauna The Sherwood is also home to a delectable upscale restaurant that serves organic food grown on-site which is renowned throughout the community The restaurant is so popular that it routinely attracts diners who aren’t even staying at the hotel dinner reservations are highly recommended While many companies greenwash their operations to make them appear more eco-friendly than they actually are the Sherwood truly follows through on their environment-friendly initiatives Their commitment began by purchasing a distressed property and choosing to renovate it instead of building an entirely new complex While oftentimes it’s easier (and even cheaper) to simply construct a new building the Sherwood went through the hard work of turning an existing building into a trendy modern facility that’s highly rated by travelers who’ve stayed there: it is ranked in the world’s top 10 most sustainable hotels by Expedia travelers Prices start at ~$270 NZD per night, and several different types of rooms are available. Book at SherwoodQueenstown.nz While you can easily coordinate your own winery tour for free using your mountain bikes some commercial operations offer e-bike rentals and even shuttle services for point-to-point rides Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week Brad Pitt was spotted filming in Queenstown today Hollywood A-list megastar Brad Pitt has been spotted filming his latest blockbuster movie in Queenstown today But the Herald spotted the 61-year-old filming on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Kinloch this morning A well-bearded Pitt was wearing full camouflage for his starring role in Heart of the Beast as a former Navy Seal A seaplane used in the movie was in action this morning with several boats also on the water Queenstown and nearby Milford Sound are stepping in for Alaska for the movie where Pitt’s character and his retired combat dog attempt to return to civilisation after a catastrophic accident deep in the wilderness Pitt’s production company Plan B is producing the film for Paramount Pictures Scenes were being shot last week on Lake Wakatipu and around Mt Aspiring National Park of the seaplane with a North American tail number being followed by a filming chopper crew The film production crew has a base camp set up nearby A public notice last month advised that a section of the western side of the lake had been exclusively reserved for several days a letter to local residents and businesses from New Zealand film company DWTT Productions location managers advised of the “upcoming activities in your area” DWTT Productions Ltd will be preparing and filming scenes for an international feature film in the wider Glenorchy area,” it said you may notice increased traffic movements and traffic management measures in place.” It gave a calendar which outlined filming days and rough locations Other shoots are lined up for nearby Milford Sounds and the beauty spot of Paradise which was also used in the Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian “We consider it a privilege to work in such areas and understand the significance of our presence around your home and/or business We are committed to minimising any disruptions our activities may cause,” the letter said Glenorchy has been full of production crew over the last few days with staff believed to have signed strict non-disclosure agreements There were rumours that Pitt had slipped into the New Zealand Open golf tournament at Millbrook Resort last weekend – and that he had filmed a TV commercial in the area for De’Longhi The local grapevine has also been abuzz with Pitt, one of the world’s most recognisable faces Locals believe he might be privately renting out rooms at some of Central Otago’s fine dining establishments and staying at a remote Sources also told the Herald’s Society Insider that Pitt has more security in tow than any film star has had previously while working in New Zealand Pitt reunites on the latest film with director David Ayer after they worked together on the 2014 Second World War action blockbuster Fury The producers are the Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle of Whiplash and La La Land and actress Olivia Hamilton Kurt Bayer is NZ Herald South Island Head of News based in Christchurch He is a senior journalist who joined the Herald in 2011 Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. Fashion's biggest names are donning "Superfine" styles for the glitzy gala. Queenstown Lakes District Council made the announcement to councillors on Thursday in a workshop behind closed doors. (Source: 1News) A Queenstown councillor is speaking out about what she says are plans to use emergency powers to discharge treated wastewater into the Shotover River. The Queenstown Lakes District Council wastewater treatment plant. (Source: 1News) The Queenstown Lakes District Council made the announcement to councillors on Thursday in a workshop behind closed doors —media weren't invited. But councillor Niki Gladding is so concerned she has decided to blow the whistle. "I was stunned, it's not something that you hear every day." The wastewater plant has been a problem for Queenstown's council in recent years. It has been slapped with infringement and abatement notices by the Otago Regional Council and there was an ongoing Environment Court attention on the facility. In the public excluded workshop, Gladding said councillors were informed about longstanding issues with the performance of the disposal field — where treated wastewater ended up after going through numerous treatment processes. Now, Gladding claimed the council wanted to use emergency powers under Sections 330 and 330A of the Resource Management Act to discharge treated effluent. Queenstown councillor Niki Gladding. (Source: 1News) "[The council] cited three potential emergencies. One, an amenity emergency; two, a health emergency; and three, a bird strike aviation-related emergency because of all the birds that are attracted to the ponded water." The water treatment ponds were located below Queenstown Airport and alongside the Shotover River. That water immediately flowed into the nearby Kawarau River. Queenstown Airport told 1News in a statement, "ponding water is attractive to birds, so leads to an increased risk. The risk associated with the ponding at the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant has been highlighted to Queenstown Lakes District Council, as the owner of the treatment plant.” Gladding said, "if there was an emergency, they should have told everybody as soon as they decided it was an emergency". The treatment ponds, left, alongside the Shotover River near Queenstown. (Source: Getty) She was worried the council might misuse the emergency powers and claimed the plan was to pump12,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater into the river each day. "I think what we need to do is just pause," Gladding said. "There's different ways to deal with it." She suggested more consultation with public and community groups, nets for the ponds to keep birds out, or even a cull. "If we look at those other ways to deal with it and they prove impossible then absolutely Ssection 330 [of the RMA] may be appropriate. But we need to let local runaka, we need to let councils downstream know. People need to know... and we make an informed decision." The Queenstown Lakes District Council has put aside $77m for a long-term solution and has assured the community the wastewater plant remained effective. The council's property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said, in a statement issued late on Friday, the facility "continues to produce highly treated water at the end of multiple processes which are all working well". “The plant’s performance is monitored daily, and results from both onsite monitoring and external laboratory tests demonstrate that the treatment standard is consistent with the plant’s resource consent conditions. “The disposal field is separate to the treatment plant and is not relied on as part of the wastewater treatment process. This means that water flowing into the disposal field is treated to a standard appropriate for the downstream receiving environment, in this case the Shotover and Kawarau rivers. “The public may see additional activity in and around the plant, including the wider delta area, as we continue our investigations..” 1News put further questions to the Queenstown Lakes District Council today about the claims made by Gladding, but was told no-one was available for an interview until an announcement due on Wednesday next week. It is, however, a long weekend in the region due to Otago Anniversary Day on Monday. Gladding told 1News: "I'm concerned... I feel it's sneaky, i feel like we're finding a way to address a number of issues here and that's not the way you use that section of the act." 1News also contacted local iwi who did not want to comment until more information was revealed on Wednesday. Comment has also been requested from the Otago Regional Council. Southland farming company slapped with fine over effluent discharge Gladvale Farms Ltd committed the offending on two occasions in October 2019 at an Oreti Plains farm Environment New recycling scheme turns car bumpers into fence posts The idea is to repurpose broken car parts destined for landfill Minister 'cautiously optimistic' broken Whaakari tech can be fixed soon Scientists have previously been denied entry by the island’s owners Little River locals question if some flooding could have been avoided The Banks Peninsula town was cut off after State Highway 75 was inundated by half a metre of water Warning of poisonous shellfish in Western Firth of Thames New Zealand Food Safety said routine tests on shellfish from Waimangu Point have shown levels of the toxins over the safe limit Cathedral Cove makes World's Best 50 Beaches list Megan Nunn from Destination Hauraki Coromandel said she was "incredibly proud" to see Cathedral Cove named for the second year running EU launches drive to lure scientists after Trump freezes funding 12 mins ago 29 mins ago 41 mins ago Full video: Question time as Parliament resumes after recess 2 mins ago A large-scale Southland farming company has been fined $82,500 for discharging effluent in a manner which could have entered waterways The company was sentenced on Monday after being found guilty in February following an August 2024 judge-alone trial Legal action against the company began when Environment Southland alleged the Resource Management Act had been breached through effluent discharge on or into land which could have resulted in the contaminant entering water It was alleged the defendant irrigated at night without monitoring due to employees being off duty The judgement said although it was not necessary to prove the contaminant had entered or impacted the waterway there was sufficient evidence to show it had Steps taken to mitigate against the discharge were not sufficient including using a digger to move effluent further into a paddock Judge Steven told the court that 90 percent of the fine would go to the council Gladvale Farms Ltd operates five dairy farms in Southland with 3700 cows across 3300 acres Stuff has previously reported fines against the company of $27,000 in 2018/19 A new recycling scheme turning bits of old bangers destined for landfill into fence posts is underway Eurotech Auto Repair Centre director Marino Milich said there's been a history of being able to recycle products "but plastics we've been found wanting" "This is great for the automotive trade and for generations to come," said Milich Among the biggest plastic components are car bumpers The plastics they're made of are designed to absorb force but therefore don't break down easily Milich sends around 10 of them to landfill every week but a new collection service from the country's motor industry body aims to end that Larry Fallowfield from the Motor Trade Association said they've started the service in the greater south and east Auckland areas and will be rolling it out to the greater Auckland over the next few months "With the intention that by the start of 2026 there will be no more bumpers going to landfill," Fallowfield said The process begins in south and east Auckland where broken car parts are placed in specifically-designed cages They are then brought to a plastic manufacturer in Waiuku to be made into fences Alloy Logistics Solutions' Grant Rollo said they received 24 bumpers in the first rollout "Wwe can fit about 50 to 60 bumpers per cage," he said Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the plastic is fed into a "big shredding machine" which chips them into 10ml pieces "Then we melt it together and turn it into a post." The Motor Trade Association is currently in talks with other companies around the country that can also repurpose plastic parts repairers are shouldering the costs of the delivery service but Fallowfield hopes insurers will help foot the bill "Most insurance companies will pay an environmental fee What we're trying to do is get insurance companies to pay a repurposing fee." Fallowfield said there's widespread interest from repairers with around 40 companies expected to sign up by the end of the month the Emergency Management Minister's "cautiously optimistic" scientists will get back on Whakaari / White Island soon to fix broken technology They have previously been denied entry by the island's owners to repair the gear after the 2019 eruption killed 22 people The monitoring equipment was drastically damaged and eventually stopped working Te Herenga Waka Victoria University researcher Dr Finn Illsley-Kemp told 1News: "We're relying on seismometers that are on the mainland and they're just too far away to record the signals." when the island has erupted in bad weather or darkness "Eruptions have occurred and we didn't notice until we saw damage on solar panels," Illsley-Kemp said it's very strange to not be able to know anything about it." Normally our most active volcano has instruments showing shaking for experts watching 24/7 to help keep people in nearby boats planes and the mainland safe from hazards like ashfall University of Auckland geology professor Phil Shane said with the current blackspots "It doesn't really seem rational or logical to restrict access by scientists to volcanoes when it's part of our role." One of the complications was court action involving the Buttle family who were initially convicted of health and safety breaches which was then quashed Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell has been upping the urgency to now reinstate the technology "It's something that is complicated and I didn't anticipate that it would be," he told 1News "I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to get equipment on there." The Buttles told 1News they met with government representatives in March from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Department of Internal Affairs the family wants to negotiate a formal licence instead of the verbal licence that existed previously They are waiting for further communication from the government on the proposed formal licence." They also said: "The Buttle family has always supported the activities of GNS [Science] in their monitoring and research on Whakaari." GNS Science would do the hands-on work to install the new gear Cleanup is underway in the Banks Peninsula town of Little River as angry locals are left to wonder if some of the flooding could have been avoided Little River was cut off until this afternoon after State Highway 75 was inundated with water aggrieved residents are questioning if its impact could have been lessened if the council had lowered the level of Lake Forsyth before the storm hit and it could have been avoided,” Little River Service Station worker Andy Davis said “Farmers did approach the council about opening the lake and that was back early or late last week and nothing had been done.” Davis is cleaning up after floodwater smashed the windows and upended freezers in the store it might have been the quakes and that could have broken the glass or it might have been the force of the water actually inside.” Rob McFarland was mopping the floor of the hotel after it flooded for the first time in 150 years “Obviously it’s quite a tragic event – a sea of water in here was the last thing we would have expected,” he said His daughter Sarah McFarland said because the lake was left high water coming down the mountain “had nowhere to go and came through the building” the head of Three Waters said the flooding would not have been mitigated by opening the lake “Flooding in Little River and surrounding areas is caused by issues higher up in the catchment and would not have been prevented by opening Lake Forsyth earlier,” Gavin Hutchison said Diggers opened the lake to the sea yesterday afternoon “We have to time this to coincide with the southerly swells dropping to ensure the channel stays open and has the intended impact and so we can ensure the safety of our staff and contractors when we carry out the work." “Having the lake open before the rain does help but it might help disperse some of the water,” she said she found her shop in 20-centimetre-deep water destroying a lot of her stock and leaving her with a huge cleanup “I’m not sure whether to close the doors and walk away.” People are being warned not to collect or consume shellfish gathered in the Western Firth of Thames region due to the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins The warning extends from the mouth of the Waitakaruru River up to Pakatoa Island and across to the mid-point of the Firth "Affected shellfish include bivalve shellfish such as mussels as well as pūpū (cat's eyes) and Cook's turban," New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said "It's also important to know that cooking the shellfish does not remove the toxin." crab and crayfish if the gut was removed before cooking "New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring shellfish in the region and will notify the public of any changes to the situation," Arbuckle said New Zealand Food Safety said there had been no reported associated illness Commercially harvested shellfish are still safe to eat Symptoms of poisoning appear between 10 minutes and three hours after ingestion and may include: rnz.co.nz The European Union launched a drive to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans after the Trump administration froze US government funding linked to diversity no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this programme," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the Choose Europe for Science event in Paris "No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas," Macron said Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a "super grant" programme aimed at offering "a longer-term perspective to the very best" in the field She said that €500 million (NZ$948 million) would be put forward in 2025-2027 "to make Europe a magnet for researchers" It would be injected into the European Research Council which already has a budget of more than €16 billion (NZ$30 billion) for 2021-2027 Von der Leyen said the 27-nation EU intended "to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law" with a new legal act As "the threats rise across the world Europe will not compromise on its principles" The White House responded by describing DEI as "an inherently discriminatory policy" "If the European Union wants to embrace policies that divide rather than focus on real scientific discovery they should not be surprised when US innovation continues to outpace Europe," said spokesperson Anna Kelly "America will continue to attract and cultivate the best talent in science Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research hundreds of university researchers in the United States had National Science Foundation funding cancelled to comply with US President Donald Trump’s order to end support for research on diversity More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic region Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science researchers and doctors have taken to the streets in protest While not mentioning the Trump administration by name von der Leyen said that it was "a gigantic miscalculation" to undermine free and open research "We can all agree that science has no passport "We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected." Von der Leyen's drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of US policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for trade deals with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a tariff war last month vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers faced notably excessive red tape and access to businesses Macron said science and research must not "be based on the diktats of the few" Macron said Europe "must become a refuge" for scientists and researchers and he said to those who feel under threat elsewhere: "The message is simple The Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance will return to Queenstown’s Gorge Rd this month to adjust a wastewater pipe laid just over 18 months ago It will be the fourth time the same section of road has been shut by the Alliance in two and a-half years an Alliance spokeswoman said they were returning to work on the "below-ground construction" of a section of the road involving "adjustment work to a wastewater pipe" and the rebuild of the footpath Queenstown Lakes District Council property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said a "quality assurance inspection" of the wastewater line had identified a "dip in the pipe" installed in August "We believe it’s related to issues that were encountered with a large concrete obstruction when the pipe was laid and this has affected the alignment of the pipe "The pipe needs to be re-laid to prevent ongoing maintenance issues." The west-bound lane of Gorge Rd will be closed with a two-way detour via Robins Rd while the work "The work will cause inconvenience to local businesses and residents but the Alliance are confident they will be able to complete the work within the 26-day timeframe and the wastewater network will operate as planned," Mr Avery said The reopening date may shift depending on "construction progress and any other unforeseen factors that may occur only reopening again midway through the following year it was shut again for more than two months for the "rebuild of the road the Alliance closed it again to install a traffic island The work was part of the controversial arterial road — officially opened on January 30 — which took more than three years to build and cost $128 million tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz The Queenstown Lakes population is about 52,000 people but that swells to about 120,000 people in peak summer It has added pressure to infrastructure, traffic congestion and caused local frustration when freedom campers used streets as toilets and rubbish pits As the government pushes for more tourist arrivals residents have been speaking about the challenges facing their city and what's on the horizon Queenstown was a small community on the cusp of big development when iFly Queenstown owner Matt Wong arrived about 23 years ago Jacks Point was the only development on the southern corridor There were horses and sheep running around," he said "There was no sign of any development happening in that area at all and now looking at it today there's an extra 10,000 houses out in those areas." Earlier this year, Queenstown Lakes councillors were warned that urgent intervention was needed to prevent local hostility over increasing tourist pressures as part of a regional deal proposal that aimed to address the region's critical needs it found the 11 kilometre trip between Lake Hayes and central Queenstown could regularly exceed an hour if nothing was done said tourism had a part to play in the problem and the solution but issues like traffic congestion and infrastructure pressures didn't go away during the quieter months "And a lot of new residents coming to Queenstown don't realise that actually they are turning this small quaint town 50 years ago into a maturing town that is becoming a small city." The council and government needed to investigate different ways to help fund more infrastructure We've had a lot more development obviously as a region than most other districts and that growth has not really paid for itself "But it hasn't actually contributed to the investment and the infrastructure that that growth brings." One long term resident said the area had a lot of growing pains The district needed more affordable housing but it seemed like they were getting more second houses for overseas buyers "We've got a problem and the problem is overtourism and overdevelopment Diane bought a home here in 2008 and visited every year saying she loved Queenstown but it did have issues "You have to sort of plan your time to go out to the grocery stores and there's just huge problems with traffic and everything's always blocked up it's really a challenge and I think it's discouraging some people," she said But Queenstown resident Les didn't understand what people were fussing about "There's always been tourists in the town so people just need to harden up and accept it It's like they probably moved here knowing that so why change it?" Oliver regularly stayed in the area regularly for work "I sort of changed where I stay and now stay in Frankton as opposed to staying in Queenstown just because of the traffic and trying to get in and out can add in an extra 45 minutes potentially on my travel time," he said But he didn't think tourists should be blamed for infrastructure pressures saying governments had consistently underinvested in the regions the tourists are really what really contribute to making this place special beyond just its natural beauty it's the vibrancy that they bring into the area," he said Business owner Amber said Queenstown was quieter when she moved there 15 years ago saying she has been forced to come in early or pay through the nose - $6 a half hour at one nearby carpark Amber said it was an expensive hassle for tourists and a real turn off for locals "What's the point of coming to town when they go out and get free parking out there (in Frankton) they have all the amenities that they need out there," she said "It's really disheartening and it's really sad to me because we can't survive just on tourists in this town Infometrics figures show the Queenstown Lakes population was about 33,400 and it has grown by about 19,000 people since then Queenstown Lakes population was projected to reach 100,558 by 2053 Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers said community frustrations with tourism were likely a hangover from underinvestment The council was investing $470 million to improve infrastructure including drinking water and wastewater just for the expected tourism growth "But I'll acknowledge $470 million is not enough That is just for us to get by and probably with a diminishing visitor experience That's the best we can do without burdening the ratepayer even more," he said Before the government announced it wanted to welcome more tourists Queenstown was already predicting about 7.1 percent annual growth in tourism for the next five years before flattening to 3 percent growth for the next five years just under $1 billion worth of capital expenditure is to accommodate expected growth That's 40 percent of our capital expenditure." Lewers said they couldn't stop people from moving or visiting Queenstown so they needed to focus on how to plan for more growth The council had improved its data so it knew what it was dealing with most cost efficient places to grow through spatial planning and submitted a regional deal he believed could help to alleviate some of the issues including transport He believed it was an immense opportunity but it needed to be consistent and invest in the long term