Organisers of Queenstown arts festival Luma have pulled the pin on the event for 2025 due to rising costs and logistics."Rising costs, organisational demands, and the desire to protect the quality of the LUMA experience have all guided us to make this tough call," the team behind the event announced on social media."We’d rather take a pause than compromise the magic that so many of you have come to love."The festival, held over King's Birthday Weekend in June, had become one of the highlights of the year for Queenstown Lakes residents, welcoming around 30,000 people to Queenstown Gardens for spectacular lights, arts and music.It had replaced Queenstown WinterFest as the annual community get-together. But it was largely organised by volunteers and, like WinterFest, had become unsustainable. It is unlikely to return in its previous form."But this isn't the end," the Luma team said."Our commitment to community and the arts remains as strong as ever. Programmes like the LUMA Schools and Emerging Artists initiatives will continue, and we’re already exploring fresh ways to celebrate creativity next year and into the future."

The fifth stage of the Wānaka Lakefront Development Plan - on the lakefront by the marina and yacht club - is now complete, as is the extension of shared pathway Te Ara Wānaka.There is now a formalised pathway running from the start of Eely Point Lakeside Trail and along the edge of the marina and yacht club, before connecting with the existing footpath and boardwalk on Lakeside Road.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) parks manager Dave Winterburn welcomed the news, saying the new pathway complements improvements in access, retention of ecology, and land use delivered by previous stages of the project to date.“This part of Wānaka’s lakefront plays host to plenty of vehicles, vessels, and trailers, and given the area also marks the start or end of many a walk, run, or ride around the lakefront for locals and visitors, Stage Five recognises and responds to how different people use this space,” Dave said.“New sections of the shared pathway Te Ara Wānaka will help keep people safe when moving through the area and along the lakefront, while maintaining existing spaces between the yacht club and marina for recreational lake users too.”Over 300 metres of Te Ara Wānaka were constructed as part of stage five of the development plan. The new pathway near the Wānaka Yacht Club.The project also delivered three additional car parking spaces for those using the marina, and a new protective screen for the public toilet near the boat ramp.Dave thanked construction crews from Fulton Hogan for their work on the project, noting they had “battled through challenging weather conditions” to deliver a key piece of infrastructure for Wānaka’s community and in time for summer.Remedial works are still required before the project is complete.Some remedial works are still required and are expected to be completed by Friday December 6.The fifth stage’s original budget in the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan was $2.3M which included $0.78M from the government’s Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF).In March 2024 a quantity surveyor estimated the fifth stage at $2.1M, however market conditions meant tender responses were more competitive and the project has been delivered at a cost of $1.2M including the TIF’s $0.78M.PHOTOS: Wānaka App 

A much-respected long-term staffer was farewelled from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) last week as she prepares to begin her retirement.Diana Manson, a long-term local whose grandparents moved to Wānaka in 1935, has worked for the QLDC parks service for 12 years, and has liaised with a wide range of community groups during that time.Diana told the Wānaka App she felt lucky to have worked with the parks service, doing council’s “feel-good stuff”.“We do get our share of flak as well, but we do get to do concrete positive things with and for the community, that do make a difference and that people can see,” she said.“That’s what I’ve most enjoyed about the role.”At Diana’s farewell morning tea on Wednesday (November 27) her manager, QLDC parks service delivery manager Clare Tomkins, described Diana as a “calm and steady influence”.“[Diana] is the exemplar of the ability to bring people together to achieve many wonderful projects for the community. Many working bees, planting days, meetings, meet and greets, workshops, presentations etc.“I know we will see plenty of her in her roles as a volunteer on the other side. She will be a very present figure in the community, and I am sure she will continue the wonderful work she does, holding us all to the high standards of engagement she has set.”Diana was farewelled last week. PHOTO: SuppliedDiana said she’s planning to “take a step back, relax and enjoy the garden and the grandkids”, but she also plans to stay involved with some of the groups she has worked with.Those groups include Wānaka Backyard Trapping (now Predator Free Wānaka), Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, the Hāwea Food Forest, the Wilding Tree group, Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, the Hāwea Foreshore Group, and the regional community associations - and more. She noted that community volunteers aren’t all retired, but are people of all ages working together with “boots on the ground”. “We’re so lucky to live in a community that has people who will freely give their time, and have been doing so for years - working really hard for the community.“That is what makes this community really special, I think.”Diana has spent her life in the Upper Clutha, and was happy to reflect on how the area has changed.“The town has certainly changed and has grown but it has still managed to retain that small-town feel … and a lot of that is to do with the community groups and organisations and their involvement, and the festivals and events … that bring people together. “I think we still have that real sense of community.”

It is potentially lights out for Aotearoa's largest solar power company, leaving some customers in limbo.And the government's asking questions about more than $100 million that has already gone from its Green Investment Fund to the company.SolarZero, which provides solar power systems, with no upfront costs but multi-year leases, has been put in liquidation.Employees have been advised that due to unsustainable operating losses, and liquidity constraints, the business cannot continue to operate.User advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa's chief executive, Mike Casey, said solar remains the future, but the delivery model has moved on.Casey told Checkpoint the technology itself is "100 percent the future" and was the cheapest energy available to New Zealand households.Business models "come and go" and it was about getting the most affordable energy in human history to Kiwi households.Casey said SolarZero "put solar on the map" and accelerated installations in New Zealand, but a changing market and a decrease in prices meant its business model did not have a long-term future.These days, Casey said it was cheaper for households to own the panels and batteries, financing them on their mortgages rather than leasing them.But New Zealand was still far behind Australia in the update of solar panels.Where 35 percent of households in Australia had rooftop solar panels, just 3 percent of Kiwi homes had them.The average install in New Zealand was about five kilowatts, costing $10,000.In Australia, the average was 10kW, and about $20,000.Casey said New Zealand needed to fix the rules and regulations to inherit the "well oiled machine" that was the Australian solar industry.It was "unfortunate" the customer had lost the option of SolarZero but the right business model "will prevail in this country".

Doctors warned officials that scaling down plans for the new Dunedin hospital at an advanced stage of the design risked leaving it in a "clinically precarious state" - just two days before the government announced its cutbacks to the project.Documents released under the Official Information Act and seen by RNZ show the group leading the design sent a strongly worded memo which argued that cutting costs at this point was unlikely to save a meaningful amount, yet it would compromise clinical services.The memo, written by clinical transformational group executive chair Dr Sheila Barnett and its deputy chair Professor Patrick Manning, stated the existing New Dunedin Hospital (NDH) design followed "a seven-year process of continued refinement, peer review and clinical scrutiny".The result, it argued, was "a robustly interrogated design of high clinical and operational functionality" and any proposed changes - such as retro-fitting existing, older buildings, staged delivery or moving inpatient services to a separate site - "would compromise this".The advisory group also denied the hospital was too big or complex, arguing its size and services reflected the needs of both the district and the region."The NDH's size and complexity are appropriate for the tertiary services it provides to the whole of urban and rural Southland, Otago and, increasingly, South Canterbury; the ageing population; its geographical isolation from other tertiary centres; and the expected 50-year-plus life of the building."The group also warned that making changes at the latter stage of the project was unlikely to save much money, and more likely to add cost."The project is now midway through detailed design and piling is almost complete. This would suggest that the cost of change will be high (eg relifting a building, programme delay and redesign costs) and the potential savings low."Barnett and Manning sent their memo to officials, including ministerial advisers, on 24 September.Health Minister Shane Reti and Health New Zealand commissioner Lester Levy. PHOTO: RNZ / Nick MonroOn 26 September the government announced the project needed to be reduced or done in stages.Two days later, Health Minister Shane Reti and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced the government would either scale back the project at the former Cadbury's site or retro-fit the existing hospital at a budget of $1.88 billion.If this was not done, they warned, the cost could hit $3 billion.Health NZ head of infrastructure delivery Blake Lepper said the health agency recognised the challenges that came with a reduced budget but needed to "work within our means to deliver this project".It was still working with the clinician team, he added."Throughout this process we have, and continue to, engage closely with the Clinical Transformation Group to ensure that we can provide high-quality hospital facilities that are fit-for-purpose for the community."

Councillors have urged Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff to find a replacement for the district’s old Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) as quickly as possible.The existing facility in Frankton is “beyond its functional life” and it is costing “a lot of money to sticky plaster the problems we are having”, QLDC strategy planning manager Sophie Mander told infrastructure committee members at a meeting on Thursday (November 28).Sophie updated committee members on the work staff have undertaken to narrow down possible locations for a new MRF, which would process recyclable material collected in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.The basic needs are a piece of land of around 11,000sqm which is zoned industrial, is relatively flat, has services in place and is able to accommodate a large building on-site, she said.Staff have identified five potential locations, including 189 Ballantyne Road, which QLDC purchased last year for $3.32M.Others included Central Otago District Council land in Cromwell; a second Cromwell site owned by a private waste management company; privately owned land in Gibbston; and an out-of-district site in either Timaru, Christchurch, Dunedin, or Invercargill.No single option currently stood out as a “clear financial win”, Sophie said, but the Ballantyne Road site was the highest-scoring option on a measure of five factors, including achievability and cost comparison.She said it was the most advanced from a development perspective, with council already owning the site, and geotechnical and planning assessments for the site already underway because of work to replace the refuse transfer station.There were still “a lot of known challenges with this site…[and the] extent of these challenges and associated costs to remedy them can’t be estimated without further engineering, environmental or planning investigations”, she said.In addition, a masterplan had not been completed for the site and existing site operators Wastebusters and Wānaka Greenwaste were being left in a state of uncertainty, she said.Even in a best-case scenario, the Ballantyne Road site - or any of the others within Queenstown Lakes or Central Otago - would not be up and running before 2030, Sophie said. The out-of-district option had been included as something which could “shoulder” things if the MRF breaks down before then.Sophie said it was not clear how much longer the existing MRF would last: “We don’t know if there will be a failure to the point we won’t be able to process material,” she said.If that did happen, “we would be looking at sending that material to landfill, which is obviously not a good place to be in”, she added.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said 2030 was too long to wait for a solution.“We need to find a way to do something sooner than that,” he said.” [The existing MRF] is already end-of-life - it’s already past its use-by date” he said.Quentin and other councillors on the infrastructure committee also encouraged staff to continue to explore all options and not focus too much on the Ballantyne Road site.“We don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket,” Quentin said.Council staff will commence engineering, environmental and planning investigations for a MRF at Ballantyne Road to enable the risks to be further understood and quantified, the infrastructure committee agreed.They will also further explore site options for both local and out-of-district options, start to prepare procurement strategies for the options and undertake a detailed carbon assessment for the options.PHOTO: QLDC

The Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is urging day walkers and trail runners venturing into the great outdoors this summer to go prepared after several rescues in recent weeks where people were caught out on day trips after being ill-equipped. “Whether you’re heading out for a few hours or a full day, you need to plan,” MSC chief executive Mike Daisley said. “Weather conditions can change quickly, especially in our national and regional parks, and accidents can happen to anyone at any time.“A little preparation can make all the difference when it comes to keeping safe in the outdoors.” MSC is reminding all walkers and trail runners to carry essential gear - which includes a waterproof jacket, warm layers, plenty of water and food, and a way to call for help, such as a cellphone, personal locator beacon or satellite messenger device.“If you’re relying on a cellphone for emergency communication, check coverage for the area before you leave and take a light-weight power bank to avoid running out of battery,” Mike said. He said using the Plan My Walk App will also help people get prepared.“It’s free and easy to use, and provides essential information, including recommended gear lists, weather forecasts and track alerts to ensure you are fully prepared. "   It is also vital to monitor the weather throughout the day and recognise if the conditions are changing, Mike said. “Things don’t always go as planned, so before you leave, decide on some key places along the way where you’ll stop and reassess the situation, including the weather and how you’re doing. You may need to put your Plan B or exit plan into action.” The NZ Land Safety Code provides a simple five-point checklist to help adventurers explore the great outdoors safely:Choose the right trip for you – learn about the route and make sure you have the skills for it.Understand the weather – it can change fast. Check the forecast and change your plans if needed.Pack warm clothes and extra food – prepare for bad weather and an unexpected night out.Share your plans and take ways to get help – telling a trusted person your trip details and taking a distress beacon can save your life.Take care of yourself and each other – eat, drink and rest, stick with your group, and make decisions together.PHOTO: Supplied

The long-awaited roundabout at the intersection of Ballantyne Road and Riverbank Road was completed today (Friday November 29) and will open at 6pm.Work began on the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) roundabout in January, and was scheduled to be completed by late October.It was completed later than initially planned, QLDC said, because of delays to the project’s start date (to align timing and road closures with the nearby upgrade of the Mt Iron intersection), the shutdown over winter, and extended wet weather in September.The lengthy work programme has caused frustration for some residents and businesses. The northern end of Riverbank Road was closed (except to residents) for around six weeks, and the southern end was closed for even longer. Wastebusters, which is located just beyond the roundabout on Ballantyne Road, put up detour signs around town earlier in the year as people were finding it difficult to make their way there due to the associated road works and closures. Since August, work crews have constructed new entry points for the roundabout and installed lighting, following stormwater upgrades and preparatory work that was completed earlier in the year. The final coats of asphalt were applied this past week.The project also includes raised safety tables on all lanes leading into the roundabout and upgrades to stormwater management in the area.The new roundabout will open to traffic in all directions this evening.QLDC says it will provide a safer environment for all road users in the area and enhance connectivity for active travel along a section of Ballantyne Road through to Wastebusters, adding that the “temporary disruption” was “well worth the significant upgrade we’re making at this intersection”.The project was part of an upgrade of intersections and roads around Wānaka and the Upper Clutha through a programme of works with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi to improve safety for road users in the area.These road safety improvements are partially funded by NZTA as part of New Zealand’s national road safety strategy.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The National Public Health Service is reviewing all potential public submissions from the agency after its southern arm wrote a submission raising concerns over a proposed McDonald's restaurant in Wānaka.Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has taken a swipe at the NPHS for the content of its submission, saying it should be focused on prioritising serious public health issues.McDonald's has been attempting to gain resource consent to build a new 445 square metre 24/7 restaurant at the intersection of State Highway 6 and State Highway 84.The Queenstown Lakes District Council has been hearing submissions from the public about the proposal. Of the 366 made, 339 were opposed, 21 in support and six wanted changes to the plan.An eight-page submission from the NPHS Te Waipounamu region said the restaurant would create environmental sustainability issues associated with takeaway food containers and food waste, as well as increased traffic and emissions.Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. PHOTO: RNZ / Reece BakerIt used the World Health Organisation's definition of health, which is "a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".The NPHS also said it was unconvinced the building was a better option than leaving the land undeveloped, close to Mt Iron (which is designated in the district plan as an Outstanding Natural Feature), and believed the jobs it would create would be low-paying and offer little security.Officials recommended the council request a Health Impact Assessment and Cultural Impact Assessment from McDonald's.Reti has expressed his concerns about the content of the submission, and others like it, to the chief executive of Health New Zealand, Margie Apa."Content within the submission, including observations about planetary health, landscape values, traffic and Te Tiriti do not match my over-arching view of what the NPHS should be spending its time on. Whooping cough, measles and raising immunisation rates are among the most pressing issues facing health today," he said."I also found it astonishing that a submission from a health agency did not address the topics it might have been expected to. There was no mention in the document I have seen of healthy eating."Reti said in the future, submissions would need to meet more stringent criteria, be considered as having a reasonable chance of influencing a decision, and only be made on issues of direct public health concern.The measure would be temporary, while the NPHS focused on a reset. A new permanent framework would be established in the future.ACT Party health spokesperson Todd Stephenson had also previously criticised the NPHS for its submission, calling officials "taypayer-funded busybodies" imposing a "nanny state agenda," and going as far as to suggest the service should be stripped back to a core function of responding to infectious diseases.Health New Zealand has been approached for comment.

Problems with parking congestion, dust, pedestrian safety, and damage to reserve grass at Wānaka’s Watersports car park were identified by council staff following completion of the first stage of the car park’s upgrade.These concerns were raised last week (Thursday November 21) at a workshop with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board and elected members debated the issues before settling on a plan to proceed.A surplus of between $10,000-$15,000 was identified from the funding for stage one’s development, which was completed in September this year with the installation of a new bridge, removal of the old wooden bridge, a chip seal parking surface, and new active travel paths separating the cars from pedestrians.Accepting that further parking improvements would be constrained by this limited funding, elected members agreed to a simple extension of the existing “rock boundary” alongside the bund (raised hump) bordering the driveway between the car park and the playground.The rocks act as a deterrent to vehicles randomly parking on the grassed reserve.The board also requested that a space for six car parks closest to the playground should be made available on the reserve’s grass - in addition to the existing playground car parks.Board chair Simon Telfer said the use and positioning of rocks, rather than something more permanent (and expensive) such as fencing or bollards, allowed for a trial to be conducted and a future review would decide if further adjustments were recommended.The other changes requested included a sign-posted and delineated bus stop (pickup/drop off only) at the only entrance to the car park (off Mt Aspiring Road) as well as the formalised delineation of up to 25 car parks.It was also agreed that the flow of traffic should be restricted to one way, entering the park closest to Stoney Creek and exiting at the playground end of the reserve. Painted direction arrows, signage, and narrowing entranceways with the placement of rocks would encourage one-way entry.Queenstown Lakes District Council parks staff member Maddy Dowman said the placement of the rocks would occur before Christmas but the signposting and painting of lines on the chipsealed surface would have to wait until next year.Parking is constrained by the bund, which was a condition of the resource consent directed by the Environment Court, Maddy said, and the bund could not be removed or altered without council being granted a variation to the consent.She said the limited budget meant QLDC could not afford to regrass the area at this stage but that by limiting the parking on the grassed area the dust generated by cars parking should also be reduced.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Public transport options to shuttle workers from Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell to Wānaka and Queenstown are being explored by Otago Regional Council (ORC).At ORC’s monthly meeting in Balclutha last week, councillors agreed to push on with a study of shared transport options, as part of a wider strategic direction on public transport across the region.Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws asked whether the study would be consulted on with the public, and chief executive Richard Saunders said that would depend on whether there would be significant changes.He said it was disappointing that Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) was not partnering with ORC in supporting the work across the region.The initial proposal was for a public bus service just to Queenstown, but Michael said given that Wānaka and Hāwea were booming as well, particularly with the trades, that route needed to be explored as well.“Not all workers are turning left at the Cromwell turn off, they are heading right as well.”Councillor Andrew Noone congratulated Michael on promoting public transport and connectivity, and said who knew what the communities would look like across the region in a decade’s time.Councillor Gary Kelliher was the only councillor who voted against the transport study.Otago Regional Council already runs a subsidised bus service around Queenstown. PHOTO: SuppliedAfter the meeting, he said he didn’t think it would be supported enough.“We have a public transport system that runs at a loss at the moment.”He believed what people wanted and what the regional council could actually provide were two different things.For example, not all workers would be wanting to leave at the same time every morning or returning at the same time at the end of the day. Unless it ran on the hour every hour it wouldn’t be sustainable, he said.“So we’ll end up with an empty bus.”With the cost of living crisis, he was not supporting the “nice to haves,” and said the regional council had to do better with its ‘must haves.’The transport team would now work with the finance team to understand the full rating impact on the decision, to inform future decisions on the Annual Plan.

The Challenge Wānaka Sports Trust says it is confident the triathlon festival has a positive future ahead, despite financial concerns.A statement from the Trust this week said entries for the 2025 Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival are tracking ahead of last year’s numbers, but event organisers are encouraging people to enter early to aid planning and help cover costs.“Early sign-ups play a huge role in the success of events like this, giving our trustees the confidence to invest in creating the best possible experience for participants,” Challenge Wānaka Trustee and event director Jane Sharman said. “Like any charitable trust that’s staging a major event in this current economic environment, it is difficult. Obtaining the required funds to deliver a world-class event – including entry fees from event participants – is challenging.” Despite reports that the event made a loss last year and it was struggling to attract entries, the trust said it remained confident that the festival had a future “as it navigates the current economic climate and rising costs”.Challenge Wānaka is funded by sponsorships (including naming sponsor Gallagher Insurance, and major sponsors Mitre10 Mega Wānaka, Puzzling World Wānaka, Racers Edge, Orca, RubyFresh Wetsuits, Kinisi Running, and Southern Land), grants (from Queenstown Lakes District Council, MBIE, Central Lakes Trust, Lion Foundation, Pub Charity, and COGS), donations from benefactors, and entry fees. The Trust said it is currently seeking more donations from benefactors who are keen to support the event. “We are grateful for the enduring support of our community and especially thankful for the financial contributions of our partners and sponsors,” Jane said. Trust chair Tony Pfeiffer said the event management team is working hard and achieving entry targets ahead of schedule, which bodes well for the 19th annual race. “We encourage athletes who haven’t signed up yet to enter before November 30, because from December 1 entries go up to their next price tier,” he said. “Entry fees are important for the 2025 event but also as we look ahead to celebrating Challenge Wānaka’s 20th event, in 2026.” Jane said the events are “more than just races”.“They're about bringing people together, staying active, and fostering connections within our community. They're vital to keeping us motivated and inspired. Everyone’s support makes a real difference in ensuring events like this continue to be part of our community for years to come.” PHOTO: Supplied

NZ's pandemic response has been described as a "game of two halves", where the country did well in the first year, before social cohesion began disintegrating.The head of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry has criticised the use of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, suggesting they were too broad and too harsh.Epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely says they should not be used as much or as stringently in the next pandemic.The report from the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 Lessons Learned is being delivered to Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden on Thursday.Covid inquiry chair Professor Tony Blakely. PHOTO: RNZ / Peter de GraafThe inquiry came up with 39 recommendations and the findings would be made public when the report was released by the government, Blakely said.In a media briefing to journalists, Blakely described New Zealand's pandemic response as a "game of two halves", where the country did well in the first year - but social cohesion began disintegrating after that.Blakely said it was crucial to look at whether lockdowns and vaccine mandates were proportionate or went too far - even if it was difficult for leaders to assess that at the time."On that mandatory element - we really want, in the next pandemic similar to SARS-CoV-2, we really want to be in a position where we don't need to use lockdowns as much or as stringently."He said while a majority of people were reasonably supportive of vaccines, some people were "adversely impacted" by vaccine mandates, causing them "huge pain". He said a "substantial minority" of people lost trust in public institutions due to the policy.He said vaccine mandates should only be used where "they have a meaningful and substantive benefit" without incurring the social harms.Mandates for frontline healthcare workers, border workers and in prisons were justifiable, he said, because these were high-risk environments where a spread of the virus could have awful consequences."But as far as its reach beyond that, I think we've all learnt that that has to be done very cautiously - even if the majority of the population are in the mood, in the drive, of the view that it should be happening - is that the unintended consequences or some would say, perfectly anticipatable consequences for the minority are major - and they should be considered."Blakely, along with economist John Whitehead, heard from 1600 people, held 400 meetings throughout the country and read through 13,000 submissions covering other topics such as vaccine procurement and rollout, the economic and social response from central governments and the communities, as well as managed isolation.He said there was a diversity of opinions on the pandemic response, including over the closing of the international border, which caused "huge pain and loss"."For some people that pain and loss was not warranted, for other people that pain and loss was understandable, given the need to protect other citizens," Blakely said.The inquiry also looked toward a future pandemic, including how resilient the country's current health system is, and what needs to be planned now to effectively deal with one.He said the country needed to have a viable public health workforce to undertake things like contact tracing - and to be able to scale that up quickly."I don't think any country is ideally prepared [for the next pandemic] at the moment. I would be concerned if I was in a country that was cutting back its public health services ... at the moment, as to the capacity you have in the system."'Let's get it out there'Blakely will step down as chair on Thursday and Grant Illingworth KC will take over for Phase 2 of the Inquiry - which has expanded terms of reference - from Friday.The government decided to create a second phase, as both the ACT-National and New Zealand First-National coalition agreements included commitments to extend the scope of the Inquiry.He would not comment on whether he thought another phase was necessary, but said the next phase may be able to look deeper into subjects like vaccine harms.But he said there was no need to hold onto his recommendations until the next phase of the inquiry wraps up in 2026, because they can and should be implemented as soon as possible."The next pandemic may not be far away, and we need to get on to preparing."It's not yet clear when the minister will release the first phase report. Brooke van Velden did not respond to RNZ's interview requests and questions about it.Blakely said there was no reason to hold on to the report, and it was ready to go once he delivered it on Thursday afternoon.He encouraged the minister to report to be released immediately after it was received."For Phase 2 to be maximally useful to the New Zealand taxpayer, you want to build on Phase 1 - so let's get it out there."

A whirlwind three-day hearing on McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s proposal for a Wānaka McDonald’s restaurant and drive-through concluded yesterday afternoon (Wednesday November 27).Independent commissioners heard a broad range of opinions on the controversial proposal - from views that the decision over McDonald’s would “determine the fate of the community” to it being “simply a symptom of a rapidly changing town” - over the past three days.“Regardless of the outcome, I hope…everybody is feeling they’ve been listened to and heard,” hearing panel chair Helen Atkins said at the end of the hearing yesterday.The experience “hasn’t been as difficult as I expected”, she said, perhaps alluding to the heated opposition to McDonald’s plans, which attracted more than 6,000 signatories in an online petition and over 300 formal submissions asking for it to be turned down.Despite the attention the topic has attracted, there were usually no more than a dozen members of the public in the hearing audience, and only 17 of the more than 100 submitters who planned to speak ended up doing so.Some of the submissions leaned to the dramatic, with suggestions the arrival of the multi-national fast food giant would turn Wānaka into “some kind of American suburb”, with the “masters of marketing” affecting eating habits for generations to come.Collectively, however, the submitters displayed a deep sense of pride and protectiveness over the town, its people and its environment.Multiple people highlighted the substantial, collaborative effort by local businesses to move away from single-use takeaway cups, when highlighting the increase in waste a McDonald’s could bring; one person teared up as she described the personal significance of Mt Iron (which the McDonald’s is proposed to be located below); and others defended independently-owned local eateries.Numerous submitters said their main concern was the location of the McDonald’s, not what its arrival might represent.“I understand change happens; I’m not opposed to change” one submitter said. “[But] the location is really concerning.”That location - on rural-zoned land near the Mt Iron/SH6 intersection - was a central point of contention for the McDonald’s team and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff, who debated whether the location was ‘rural, semi-rural or peri-urban’ and whether it was the ‘entrance to Wānaka’ or not.Yesterday QLDC had its opportunity to present its views (following McDonald’s on Monday and public submitters on Tuesday) and landscape architect for QLDC, Richard Denney, said the location of the proposed McDonald’s was “absolutely the problem”.He said the proposal to place the McDonald’s in the “most sensitive part of the site”, adding that the site itself was not just a “sliver” of rural-zoned land, but instead formed part of a “much bigger area of rural-zoned land that includes Mt Iron”.He said the area was an “important front door to Wānaka” and formed part of a “green entry” to the township.QLDC senior planner Andrew Woodford, the last speaker of the day, had recommended the McDonald’s be turned down in a report made before the hearing.He told the hearing panel yesterday he had listened carefully throughout the hearing and it “hasn’t changed my overall findings and conclusions in my report”.The commissioners have yet to set a date for a right of reply from the McDonald’s legal team, but indicated that may be late in December. Once they are satisfied they have received all the information they require they will make their decision, which would take another three weeks or so.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Community Link’s Christmas appeal is more important than ever this year.Demand for the organisation’s food bank has doubled in the past year, Community Link manager Kate Murray said.In addition, demands for “all of our service areas - immigration, Justice of the Peace, social worker services and so on - are increasing”, she said.The Christmas appeal not only ensures families have a Christmas meal and gifts under the tree, it also helps to stock food bank’s shelves for the coming year.It is Community Link’s “major fundraiser” for the year, Kate said.Locals can make donations of food or toys at various local stores but, Kate added, monetary donations are a “critical” part of the campaign too.It helps to “fill the gaps” not met by other donations - which can be things like fresh meat and vegetables, frozen food, and items for specific dietary requirements.“Cash donations help maximise our limited storage space, ensuring we can efficiently stock and distribute the food needed for our food parcels,” Kate said.As well as the increase in demand for Community Link’s services, so has “the complexity of what people need”. “Previously it might have been a one-off helping hand,” Kate said. “What we are increasingly seeing now are more in depth requests that take more time and potentially address a range of more complex and challenging needs.”She said the changes could be attributed to a range of factors.“It’s partly the economic landscape at the moment; partly because we are growing as a community; partly the cost of living in the region.”Read more: Food bank ‘scratching the surface of need’Support Community Link’s Christmas appeal ‘EveryONE CAN’ by making a food donation at New World Three Parks, by dropping off Christmas gifts to Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka, or by making a financial donation - one off or regular - via the link here. Community Link is Wānaka’s one-stop support and connection centre.PHOTO: Community LinkRead more: Campaigns help share Christmas cheer

Five Wānaka building companies have been singled out in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards 2024.The annual competition recognises the best homes, builders and craftspeople from around the country. “Wānaka featured strongly with five spectacular local homes making the top national selection,”Registered Master Builders Central Otago president and CDL Building managing director Justin Carnie said.The local winners - each of whom built a home recognised in the top 100 - were Bayview Construction Wānaka, CDL Building, Level Construction, Dunlop Builders and Jennian Homes Wānaka.The central Wānaka ‘Sanctuary Central’ (built by Level Construction) took out the supreme award in the regional arm of the competition earlier this year, and it added to its award haul with three new awards in the national competition, including an award for bathroom excellence.Regional winner ‘Sanctuary Central’ (built by Level Construction) received an additional three awards, including an award for bathroom excellence. PHOTO: Samuel HartnettThe 307m2 ‘Brick and Style’ (built by Dunlop Builders) received two new awards in the national competition, including an award for sustainability.‘Go Big or Go Home’ (built by Bayview Construction Wānaka), ‘Mountain High’ (built by CDL Building), and ‘Southern Charm’ (built by Jennian Homes Wānaka) each received one new award.‘Go Big or Go Home’ (built by Bayview Construction Wānaka) was one of five local projects to be named among the top 100 homes. PHOTO: Caydn Thomson, ImageWorks“Our community certainly can be proud of the calibre of projects produced by the teams of dedicated professionals,” Justin said. “These individuals are committed to setting the benchmarks for quality across residential construction in New Zealand.”Justin said Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards are a key platform for celebrating excellence in residential construction.See all the 2024 winners and award details here.

Solar power company SolarZero, which has an office in Wānaka, has been put into liquidation, leaving some customers worried about the contracts they have signed with the company.The company - which offers customers solar power systems with no upfront cost but an ongoing, multi-decade lease - said the directors had requested its shareholder appoint a liquidator.It said directors had requested its senior lenders take enforcement action, and appoint another provider Verofi, to ensure power service for customers was not interrupted."The directors have advised company employees that due to unsustainable operating losses, and liquidity constraints, the business is unable to continue trading in its current form."As a result, the company has ceased operations from 4pm [Tuesday]. Russell Moore and Stephen Keen of Grant Thornton have been appointed as the liquidators of SolarZero."SolarZero is owned by GRP III Regional Holdings Ltd, part of the BlackRock Group.It was founded in the 1970s and has 160 employees throughout the country and offices in Auckland, Christchurch and Wānaka.SolarZero directors said the company had explored a range of options for a restructure."Regretfully, SolarZero and its key stakeholders were unable to find a viable solution to sustain the business."This is a tough day for SolarZero teams, who have worked hard to build a more sustainable New Zealand. Today's decision is not a reflection on their work or commitment."Customers posting on SolarZero's Facebook page were concerned about their contracts being honoured. One wrote: "Our contracts still stand and we still get the second battery free after 10 years, correct?"Another asked: "Can we please have a heavily discounted liquidator sale buy back scheme. Feels like a liability on the roof now."PHOTO: lighthunter/123RF

Independent commissioners will hear from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff today (Wednesday November 27) in the third day of a hearing on McDonald’s proposal for a Wānaka restaurant.On Monday commissioners heard from the McDonald’s Restaurants NZ team; on Tuesday members of the public shared their views; and today the local council will have the opportunity to make its case (after the last few members of the public speak in the early morning).QLDC has already signalled in a report released last month that it is against the McDonald’s proposal for a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week restaurant and drive through operation on the outskirts of Wānaka.Council planner Andrew Woodford said the proposal was inappropriate in the rural-zoned site, detracted from the Mt Iron Outstanding Natural Landscape feature, and had other “adverse visual effects”.Some similar views were shared during yesterday’s public submissions, with many submitters saying the location of the proposed McDonald’s was inappropriate. One submitter described the proposal as “a highly lit, eyesore of a restaurant in a rural-zoned location at the entrance to our town”.For others, the issue of whether or not McDonald’s gets the go-ahead had much higher stakes; one said the decision on the McDonald’s would “determine the future of this community”.There were also passionate calls for the preservation of the “small-town feel” of Wānaka, extensive concerns over the litter McDonald’s packaging could lead to, as well as the impact on local eateries and the nutritional content of McDonald’s food.At the opposite end - in the pro-McDonald’s camp - one submitter argued the proposed location for the McDonald’s wasn’t the centre of town or even a focal point; that any negative health effects from eating fast food could also happen from eating in excess at existing Wānaka burger restaurants; and that the arrival of McDonald’s is “simply a symptom of a rapidly changing town”.“We are fortunate to live in an outstanding place…a single McDonald’s is simply not going to change that,” he said.The submitter joked that he made his submission “at the risk of being burnt at the stake,” referencing the heated and divisive discourse on the proposal.Day three of the hearing will begin at 9am today at the Lake Wānaka Centre.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A jet boat with five passengers struck trouble in the Clutha River near Queensberry on Friday (November 22) at approximately 8.30pm. “The Clutha is running high which made conditions dangerous,” Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said. A multi-agency emergency response, including Wānaka LandSAR, was mobilised. All passengers were wearing lifejackets, and all passengers were accounted for, Fi said.She said warmer weather and longer days are making our waterways attractive for recreationists, and advised planning trips well.This includes taking two forms of waterproof communications (eg. a mobile phone in a waterproof bag and a personal locator beacon); telling someone when you head out the water; wearing a lifejacket; and checking the weather forecast. Fi also advised checking information on river flows (via Otago Regional Council).Queenstown LandSAR was called out to a rescue at the back of the Remarkables last week (Wednesday November 20). “It is fair to say that the person who ran into difficulty was woefully prepared and had to endure a night out in freezing conditions,” Fi said. “A complete absence of adequate food, clothing and a plan.”Again, she said she urged people to adequately prepare before heading out into the great outdoors, by planning, advising someone of your plans, checking weather, knowing your limits, taking sufficient supplies, and taking appropriate means of communication.Road policingPolice were called to attend a single vehicle accident on Monday afternoon (November 25) after a vehicle travelling from Wānaka to Hāwea lost control and travelled up a bank. “Alcohol and speed are likely contributing factors and will be dealt with accordingly,” Fi said.In a separate incident a driver was located and issued an excess breath alcohol infringement notice on Friday (November 22). The Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit (CVIU) has been in Wānaka, Fi said, and a truck with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4,655kgs was observed travelling north on MacPherson Street - which vehicles with a GVM over 3,500kgs are prohibited from using. “There are warning signs at both ends of the street. Residents are often in touch with police reporting poor driving behaviour,” Fi said.With the festive season approaching, Fi advised people to have a “robust plan” for transport arrangements when alcohol is involved.She also noted that carparks at busy walking tracks (such as Mt Iron and Roys Peak) are filling up. “Please ensure that you park considerately and safely; remove any valuables or documents in your vehicle; and lock your vehicle.”Scams continueFacebook Marketplace scams continue to be an issue.“Most sellers are genuine, however there are some people who use Marketplace to target people,” Fi said. “If you are buying something sight unseen, you are taking a risk. There are risks when trading on all online platforms. Please do your diligence.” She said police are also seeing banking related scams, including: people pretending to be from a trusted organisation like a bank, government agency or police; phishing scams, such as emails or text messages that trick people into sharing personal or bank details; and copying social media accounts to make a fake profile and contacting people’s friends list.“Scammers target people of any gender or age, and it doesn’t matter how much money you have. It’s important to stay up to date with the types of scams,” she said. “If you think you or someone you know has been the victim of an online scam, fraud, abuse and harassment or other criminal activity online you can report online or call 105. Providing as much information as possible helps us in processing your report, this could include any relevant evidence and documents available e.g. bank statements, emails, texts, social media accounts.”Find more information here.Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Wānaka App