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Wānaka Crag Fest returns 
Wānaka Crag Fest returns 

17 February 2025, 4:04 PM

Wānaka Crag Fest will return next month after a successful first event in 2024.Run by the Wānaka Climbing Club and New Zealand Alpine Club, Wānaka Crag Fest is designed to unite climbers, build community, advance climbing skills, and promote sustainability across an action-packed weekend. It offers a full schedule of clinics, social events, and community activities, with something for climbers of all levels, the New Zealand Alpine Club says.This year Wānaka Crag Fest will expand, with more tickets available, new clinics catering to a wider range of skill levels, and a special focus on youth and family accessibility. Clinics include those focused on young people (ages 13–18) and their caregivers, tailored to different competency levels.“The weekend isn’t just about climbing—non-climbing activities like yoga, cold water immersion, slacklining, and acroyoga offer plenty of opportunities to connect, unwind, and try something new,” the New Zealand Alpine Club said.Friday night (March 14) kicks off with a vendor village featuring outdoor brands, climbing competitions, quizzes, films, and prizes from sponsors. Saturday night will offer food and drinks at Velo Cafe alongside live local DJs and giveaways to round out the day.There will also be a sustainability working bee on the Saturday afternoon, giving attendees the chance to earn their dinner by giving back to the local crags.Wānaka Crag Fest runs from March 14-16. Find tickets and more information here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Government announces $30m spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects
Government announces $30m spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects

17 February 2025, 6:00 AM

The government has announced a $30 million spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects.Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, made the announcement at the post-Cabinet brief on Monday.It includes $11m spent to improve popular visitor sites and further $19m towards biodiversity efforts.The $11m tourism funding would go towards:Upgrades to huts, car parks and facilities at Aoraki Mt Cook, Rangitoto Island and Motutapu IslandSafety upgrades to 116 cable structures including suspension and swing bridgesInvestment at Goat Island / Te Hāwere a Maki to improve beach access, car parking, and reflect the area's significant cultural heritage.The $19m biodiversity funding would go towards:Stopping the spread of wallabies and managing deer and goat populations in National Parks and popular visitor areas to allow nature to thriveTargeted predator control to protect native species especially the critically endangered Southern Dotterel birds in Rakiura National ParkStopping and removing wilding pines from our iconic landscapes.Potaka said the spending came from the government's International Visitor Levy which is paid for by tourists entering the country, from the funds raised before the government increased the cost from $35 per tourist to $100.It follows the announcement on Sunday of a further $500,000 spent on an ad campaign for attracting Australian tourists during the off-peak "shoulder season".Labour and the Greens supported tourism growth at the time but said there should instead be more funding for tourism infrastructure, which was already struggling to cope with demand in some areas.The "Everyone Must Go" slogan also faced criticism and mockery from the parties as well as as well as the public.

‘Not a fluke’: Second silver for Campbell Wright
‘Not a fluke’: Second silver for Campbell Wright

16 February 2025, 11:30 PM

Hāwea Flat biathlete Campbell Wright - aka ‘The Golden Mullet’ - has succeeded in proving his first silver medal for the USA team was “not a fluke”.After winning silver on Sunday (February 16) in the 10km sprint of the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Campbell went on to win another silver medal in the 12.5km pursuit the following day.“Campbell may be wearing a USA jersey but is bringing Wānaka's winning ways to the podium,” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (owner of the Snow Farm and Merino Muster Ltd) trustee John Burridge said.In Monday (February 17) night’s event, which included two prone shootings and two standing shootings, Campbell missed one fewer shot than the gold medal winning leader JT Boe (Norway), and was just 8.6 seconds behind him at the finish.John said Campbell started 28 seconds behind JT and was “clearly closing the gap in the last lap, which made for an exciting finish”. “I am beyond words in terms of Campbell doubling up on yesterday's miracle,” John said.  “For biathlon he has rattled the Norwegian firmament… I am sure there is very special snow at the Snow Farm.”Eric Perrot (France) came in third.Campbell, who holds dual citizenship in New Zealand and the USA, joined the US biathlon team in July 2023. “Had to prove it wasn’t a fluke,” Campbell posted on social media following the race. “I enjoyed every single metre of that race, and felt Team USA cheering every step of the way.”Watch Campbell’s reaction when he shoots clean at the last standing shooting here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Carparks lost but ‘dust bowl’ to be restored
Carparks lost but ‘dust bowl’ to be restored

16 February 2025, 4:00 PM

Rocks have been installed around the Stoney Creek reserve to help restore it from a “dust bowl” to a green area, but locals say the move will exacerbate congestion at the popular spot.Work crews placed rocks along part of the reserve near the Stoney Creek carpark (adjacent to the Wānaka Watersports Facility and near ‘The Wānaka Tree’) last week (February 13-14) to “protect reserve land from vehicle damage and reduce congestion”, according to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).“Several informal parking spaces will be maintained near the playground, and the new rocks will provide a gap for vehicles with trailers to use when accessing the watersports facility,” QLDC announced on social media, adding that additional parking was available “a short walk away” at the Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road carpark.Many locals responded by bemoaning the loss of car parking, “Where are all the cars now going to park? It's a very busy area which won't change,” said one person. Others suggested creating more car parks on the reserve; another said they believed there was already insufficient parking for the nearby playground, and the loss of more parks would “force people to walk their children and toddlers in buggies along the road with the buses and much dubious driving.”Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer said the board agreed to the project at a public workshop late last year.  “We have obligations to reduce the dust storms for neighbours, protect trees and reserves and to meet Environment Court requirements based on the Water Sports Facility decision,” Simon told the Wānaka App.The reserve has been turned into “a dust bowl”, community board chair Simon Telfer says.The amenity of the reserve is currently poor “as vehicles have turned what is a reserve into a dustbowl”, he said.“But, over time, we will rehabilitate this area and it will continue to be part of the green space fabric that Wānaka is known for.”Simon said there will “never be enough vehicle parking in peak times at a number of our reserves”. “But creating parking costs, and that burden falls on the rate payer,” he said. He added that QLDC needs to “do better at sign posting where people should park and for Stoney Creek that will include using Stage 2 parking, road side parking and showground parking”.Locals also raised concerns on social media about the number of buses using the reserve, with one person saying: “Stop allowing three 40 seater buses to park in there at a time; charge them and make them park elsewhere so it’s not so dangerous for others to drive, walk, bike in that area.”A bus double parked to dislodge passengers on Saturday.When the Wānaka App visited the reserve on Saturday (February 15) two commercial buses were forced to double park while passengers unloaded. The parks were also busy with campervans, cars, and pedestrians.Simon said bus parking in the area “is a challenge”.“[But] I'm not sure ratepayers should fund those buses that stop off to use the Watersports toilets, photograph the tree and then head to Queenstown without making any contribution to Wānaka,” he said.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Fin Melville Ives claims maiden Freeski Halfpipe World Cup victory with ‘dream run’
Fin Melville Ives claims maiden Freeski Halfpipe World Cup victory with ‘dream run’

16 February 2025, 6:46 AM

Wānaka’s Finley Melville Ives (18) has won his maiden World Cup, securing the top spot at the FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup in Calgary.This makes him the youngest New Zealander to ever win a FIS Freeski World Cup.“I just can’t believe it, I am so stoked,” Fin said.“I have trained so hard and I am so happy to put down my run.” The mercury hovered around -20 degrees Celsius this week in Calgary, but the frigid conditions didn’t faze Fin who shared the podium with American freeski icons Nick Goepper (2nd) and Alex Ferreira (3rd).“Both of them are my heroes growing up, I have watched them on the TV and at the Olympics, I can’t believe it, this is nuts,” Fin said.Fin delivered his winning run on his first of two finals attempts. His highly technical performance included a left double corked 1620 mute grab into a unique left alley-oop double corked flat spin 1080 mute grab, earning him a score of 92.75 and an early lead.He had to endure a nervous wait after recording a ‘Did Not Improve’ on his second run. With nine athletes still left to drop, his first-run score remained untouchable, sealing his first-ever World Cup victory.Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harrold (16) finished just off the podium in fourth place, securing his season’s best result.This competition marked the final stop of the 2025 FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup Tour, with Ferreira crowned overall champion and awarded the Crystal Globe. Fin finished fourth in the overall standings for the season.The Kiwi Freeski Halfpipe Team now sets its sights on the World Championships, scheduled for the end of March in Switzerland.PHOTO: FIS Park & Pipe

Silver medal for Campbell Wright
Silver medal for Campbell Wright

15 February 2025, 9:45 PM

Wānaka athlete Campbell Wright has won the silver medal in the 10km sprint of the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The biathlete, who learned his skills at Wānaka’s Snow Farm and now represents the USA, took second place behind the great Norwegian J.T. Boe, who is retiring at the end of this year, pushing French star Q.Fikkon Maillet into third place.Campbell’s medal is only the fourth World Championship medal the USA have ever won; it is the first time they have won a sprint medal and their first medal since 2017. “We need to remember that New Zealand and the Snow Farm helped them do it,” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (owners of the Snow Farm and Merino Muster Ltd) trustee John Burridge said.Campbell on the podium in Switzerland.Campbell, who holds dual citizenship in New Zealand and the USA, joined the US biathlon team in July 2023.John said the race conditions were “brilliant with sunshine but cold almost windless conditions”.  After starting 34th in a 99 place interval start event Campbell was in the lead for much of the race, John said, after making a very fast start.“[He] backed that up with clean shooting at both prone and standing. He also did not fade on the last lap but watching him skiing the last sections before the finish straight his skiing lost shape as he was pushing his limit.  “He clearly wanted that podium,” John said.Campbell posted on social media after the race that he had “no words, just tears”.Watch a video of the race here.PHOTOS: Supplied

‘Masterclass of racing’ at Challenge Wānaka Half
‘Masterclass of racing’ at Challenge Wānaka Half

15 February 2025, 8:45 PM

Christchurch's Mike Phillips stormed to victory in the 19th edition of Challenge Wānaka, delivering a commanding performance to claim the title at the 2025 Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half.Leading from start to finish, Mike put on a masterclass of racing, showcasing his strength across all three disciplines.Emerging from the swim in first place, he wasted no time extending his advantage on the bike, powering through the scenic yet demanding course to build an unassailable lead. He continued his dominance on the run, crossing the finish line in 3 hours, 54 minutes, and 26 seconds with a 15-minute margin over his nearest rival."It was great to get a hit out and come down and support the race,” Mike said.Christchurch's Tom Somerville took second, leaving everything out on the run course, stating he had "gone to some dark places on that run." Local triathlete Laurie Watson secured third in an impressive race for the up-and-coming athlete, who started his journey with the Puzzling World Junior Challenge and now competing with the elites. Laurie closed the gap to Tom on the run, finishing only two seconds behind him.In the women’s race, Wānaka triathlete Danielle Donaldson continued her breakout season with a remarkable victory. Danielle Donaldson. Danielle, who has delivered some standout performances across multiple races this season, finished in 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 38 seconds. With consistent results in the age-group ranks, she is now considering a transition to the professional field in 2025/2026.She was chased on the run by Deb Lynch, the newly crowned 2025 Coast to Coast Champion, who finished second, 4 minutes and 28 seconds behind Danielle. Wānaka resident, and former professional triathlete, Maeve Kennedy-Birdsall finished third.A stunning day in Wānaka set the stage for the event. The morning began with calm conditions and no wind for the swim start, but as the day progressed, the hot sun and challenging terrain took its toll on the athletes."It’s fantastic to have athletes of Mike’s calibre supporting this year’s Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka and testing out the course," event director Jane Sharman said. "His performance [on Saturday] was impressive, and the feedback on the course has been invaluable. It’s a challenging course, and we've received positive suggestions on how it could be refined for the future. Overall, the vibe of the festival has been amazing."PHOTOS: Supplied

Local students compete in Challenge
Local students compete in Challenge

14 February 2025, 4:04 PM

The Puzzling World Intermediate Challenge Wānaka is one of the events already ticked off at this weekend’s Challenge Wānaka triathlon festival (February 13-15).The festival has so far included more than 2,100 children competing in the Puzzling World Mini, Junior and Intermediate Challenges on Thursday (February 13), and the Mitre 10 Mega Adaptive Challenge and Secondary Schools Challenge on Friday (February 14). Perfect conditions awaited the young competitors on both days, with temperatures quickly climbing into the 20s.MACs student Ollie Wright (left), who lost his shoes but continued at speed, and Jarod Enoka. PHOTO: Wānaka AppTe Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students were well represented at the Intermediate Challenge yesterday, along with students from schools from as far afield as Christchurch.Read more: Champions and contenders join lineup for Challenge WānakaMore than 2,900 athletes will compete across a range of events at the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival. The multi-day celebration of endurance sport draws thousands of athletes and spectators to the region, and this year’s race features a revamped swim, bike, and run course.Amelia (11 months) keeps track of her older sister Aleah (year 7). PHOTO: Wānaka AppYear 8 MAC student Cody Sherwin ended his triathlon with a somersault. PHOTO: Dave SherwinIntermediate Challenge Winners:Year 7 girls:Georgie WellingtonAlessandra Moir (MAC)Arnelle HammanYear 7 boys:Lachie LampeNathan Parkes Bruno Blampied (MAC)Year 8 girls:Penelope HodgsonBecky MeyerLilly WiegersmaYear 8 boys:Ethan KainaWillis McCarroll (MAC) Bill Dobson (MAC) 

Outdoor enthusiasts encouraged to ‘have a hmmm’ 
Outdoor enthusiasts encouraged to ‘have a hmmm’ 

14 February 2025, 4:00 PM

NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is joining forces with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to ‘Have a hmmm’. The injury prevention-focused activity seeks to keep Kiwis injury-free in the outdoors by encouraging hikers and hunters to pause and consider their safety before and during their adventures. MSC chief executive Mike Daisley said the ongoing partnership reflects a shared commitment to preventing injuries in the outdoors. “The ‘Have a hmmm’ messaging aligns with MSC’s focus on injury prevention. Partnering with ACC again enables an increased campaign reach, ensuring more hikers and hunters receive this important safety messaging,” he said. New Zealanders are encouraged to plan well for every trip, and to use MSC’s free trip planning tool, Plan My Walk, to make planning easy. When out on the trip, it reminds people to stick together, be aware of the changing conditions, and watch their footing on uneven terrain. ACC injury prevention programme leader James Whitaker said the partnership is an ideal way to help New Zealanders to enjoy their passions and to stay injury free so they can keep doing what they love. “ACC helps people recover when they get injured, but it’s better for everyone if injuries are prevented in the first place,” James said.“MSC is well positioned to support this messaging and encourage people to get prepared before they go and stay alert to hazards while enjoying the outdoors.”PHOTO: Supplied

NZ’s biggest bike event on today
NZ’s biggest bike event on today

14 February 2025, 3:59 PM

New Zealand’s largest ever bike event - Natural Selection Bike - will take place today (Saturday February 15).More than 20 of the world’s best riders were confirmed for Natural Selection Bike in January and four more athletes were added to the line up following last week’s Dream Ticket event qualifier.A world-class mountain bike course has been completed at the event site Mt Dewar, in Queenstown.Natural Selection Bike is being supported by the government through its Major Event Fund and will showcase Queenstown Lakes as a world class mountain bike destination.Today’s event “will be one of the most exciting and progressive mountain bike events globally in 2025”, event director Sophie Luther said.The action will begin from 10am and it will feature a men’s and women’s division combining the three most dynamic disciplines in mountain biking (Big Mountain Freeride, Slopestyle and Downhill). New Zealander Robin Goomes (the Chatham Islands/Rotorua rider who had a breakthrough year in 2024, winning Red Bull Rampage to cement her status as the best female rider on the planet) said she is excited to take on the competition.Robin Goomes says she can’t wait to arrive on the start line. PHOTO: Paul Foley“The track is looking amazing, and I can’t wait to get to ride in front of a home crowd,” Robin said. “The athlete lineup is epic so it’s going to be an unreal competition.”Sophie said the Natural Selection Bike was a not-to-be-missed event. “Between the innovative course that blends all aspects of freeriding into one run and the level of riders competing here, this will be a thrilling experience for bikers and non-bikers alike.” Gates will open from 7.30am.Tickets are still available for the event.Under 12s can attend for free.

Fire risk closes Mount Iron Reserve
Fire risk closes Mount Iron Reserve

14 February 2025, 3:00 AM

Updated Tuesday February 18: The Mt Iron Reserve is now fully open. Mt Iron Reserve will be closed from 12pm-6am for the next three days (Saturday February 15 to Tuesday February 18) due to an extreme wildfire risk.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is advising residents and visitors to avoid using the reserve, which includes the very popular Mt Iron Track, during these times.“We know that a wildfire in one of our reserves could have a devastating effect on our people, environment and economy,” QLDC community services general manager Ken Bailey said.“Closing access to the area while the danger is at such elevated levels is the safest option.”He said fire indices had reached levels which trigger a closure under QLDC’s Wildfire Reserve Closure Plan.It was brought on by an extended spell of hot and dry weather and high temperatures forecast for the next three days.QLDC parks manager Dave Winterburn confirmed the weather is forecast to be more extreme in the afternoons in the coming days as temperatures rise throughout the day, causing humidity to drop and leading to hotter, drier conditions. “We’d advise those who’d like to continue to access Mount Iron Reserve to do so in the mornings when the weather is cooler and risk is lower,” Dave said.“We’ll closely monitor the indices and either extend the half day closures or reopen the reserve on Tuesday at 6.00am or as soon as it is considered safe to do so.”Otago Community risk manager James Knapp says Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is providing expertise and guidance to QLDC in determining how wildfire risk on Mount Iron Reserve should be managed.QLDC will place signage at entrance points to the reserve and has notified all stakeholders in line with its agreed closure plan, Dave said.During the reserve closure, access to Mount Iron Reserve is limited to the easily accessible trails around the base of the reserve only. A map showing these trails can be found here.The Wānaka App will update this closure on its Notices page.Meanwhile, the remainder of the district is subject to a total fire ban implemented by FENZ.   PHOTO: Supplied

Police vs promoters: Inside a growing summer festival 'crisis'
Police vs promoters: Inside a growing summer festival 'crisis'

13 February 2025, 8:22 PM

By Chris Schulz NZ police blame alcohol abuse and violence on a widespread crackdown on outdoor events. But promoters call that "misinformation" and say unfair opposition puts their events at risk.Alex Turnbull has hosted a huge outdoor party nestled into the Cardrona Valley's lush foothills as each New Year arrives, for the past 15 years."We know what we're doing," says the founder of Rhythm & Alps, the three-day festival that has had a largely unblemished run. Each event attracts 10,000 people, and he can only remember six or seven arrests ever being made - about one every two years."It's a really well-contained, safe festival site," he says.But, at the end of 2023, Turnbull found himself at a District Licensing Committee hearing where police and health authorities were doing something unusual - fighting his request to sell punters four alcoholic drinks at a time."They instantly opposed it," says Turnbull.He calls this a "massive challenge", because without alcohol sales, Rhythm & Alps and many other festivals may not be profitable."There's no way we could run it. Absolutely no way."His licence was approved, but police later appealed the decision, citing what they called an unreported "underbelly" of bad behaviour at his event. They lost their appeal over lack of evidence, but Turnbull still doesn't understand why police targeted Rhythm & Alps when it has such a strong track record."We've got a very good, experienced team who know how to handle large crowd numbers and intoxication levels," he says."We are not trying to make a messy party ... why would we want to do that?"Turnbull promotes major shows around the country and claims it's just one example of many which shows police are cracking down on outdoor events, either opposing festival liquor licences or restricting their ability to sell alcohol, then arriving at events in large numbers to enforce those rules. Interviews with multiple promoters backed his view, with many saying they were facing opposition for everything from dub and reggae shows to multi-stage music festivals to dance and hip-hop parties headlined by international artists.In a statement, police denied trying to shut down everyone's summer fun. Instead, they say they are targeting outdoor festivals to "mitigate the risks of alcohol-related harm"."Large scale events such as concerts and multi-day events are high-risk events," a spokesperson says."When police oppose an event, they are not saying the event can't take place, but are looking to the District Licensing Committees to impose appropriate conditions that mitigates the risk at that particular event."Nine shows have been affected by police licensing opposition this summer, with four outdoor festivals cancelled, another four postponed, and one forced to return tickets when NZ Police opposed their application and their licensing rules changed. Promoters already struggling with hefty cost increases and sluggish ticket sales say increasing police opposition could make their events untenable.Promoter blames a 'targeted campaign'Just before Christmas, one of our biggest summer festivals called it all off. Juicy Fest, a nostalgic hip-hop festival running since 2023, told ticket-holders they could no longer bring Ludacris, Akon and a dozen other acts here for four shows. The reason? Police had opposed their liquor licence in Auckland, blaming "excessive consumption of alcohol," a "significant number of gang members from different gangs," and "disorder and fighting" that blighted Juicy Fest's 2023 and 2024 events.Timeless Group promoter Glenn Meikle alleged "targeted efforts" were to blame. Because of Juicy Fest's cancellation, he says he was forced to postpone another four festival shows for his Timeless Summer Tour because those events were being held in the same venues, and police opposition affected those liquor licences too.(Meikle didn't respond to a request for comment, but multiple news stories covered ongoing issues at Juicy Fest 2024, including 12 arrests being made at the Auckland leg, and six in Wellington, where a police officer was hit in the head with a bottle.)On the same day that Juicy Fest's cancellation was announced, the long-running Western Springs event Laneway was forced to recall up to 2000 tickets it had already sold to 16 to 18-year-olds. Eleven people were treated for intoxication in 2024 across all ages, and no arrests were made, but police opposed the festival's liquor licence allowing underage music fans onto the site, saying they suspected "there were many more intoxicated people in the crowd" than the reported numbers.Laneway was forced to cancel entry to under-18s at its 2025 event, despite already selling tickets to people aged 16 and 17. PHOTO: Chris Schulz, SuppliedClearly, some festivals have more issues than others. But promoters say police are taking a heavy-handed approach at many events and requesting drink restrictions, hampering how profitable a festival can be."For most people doing an outdoor event these days, your profit is in your bar sales," says David Benge, the managing director for events company TEG Live."If the police are coming in heavy-handed and not allowing that ... it kills your profit margins."Benge should know - he had his own run-in with police just a few weeks ago.Why did 18 cops show up to Summer Haze?At Summer Haze, a Tauranga festival headlined by The Roots and held on 30 December, at least 18 uniformed police officers showed up and stood in a line across Wharepai Domain for the entire evening.In a statement, police say this was a "preventative approach" to anticipated disorder.Police gather at Summer Haze in Tauranga. PHOTO Chris Schulz, SuppliedJust a few thousand punters were there on a very mellow night and they were just as perplexed by the large police presence as the show's promoter was. Benge had met with police before the event and says he expected a few of them to show up - but not in those kinds of numbers. He'd already hired his own team of security who hadn't reported any problems."We'd had zero issues," he says.So, when 18 officers arrived on site, Benge approached them and asked, "Is it necessary to have this many police here?" Benge claims police told him they were staying put, and refused to negotiate. The spot they were all standing in was clearly visible from the stage, and right by the festival's front gate. "Anyone coming in would see 18 police officers with their arms folded," he says.In a statement, police say they supplied "sufficient staff to rotate through hydration and meal breaks". They say the presence of staff in hi-vis vests has "a calming effect" on crowds. They say they kept a close eye on the venue's single bar."We were also there to monitor that the conditions of the event's alcohol licence were being complied with," a spokesperson says.Several weeks after his event, Benge remains in disbelief. He, and others, refute claims that a large police presence calms crowds. "It's a chicken and egg thing," Benge says. "[Police] are creating a scene where this feels intimidating."He says their presence impacted his performers too."When my bands are on stage, they're seeing a sea of people having a good time - and a wall of police behind them. They're like, 'What's going down?' That has them second-guessing whether we're running safe events."Police say there were "fortunately no significant issues" and "no arrests of note". Benge says one arrest was made that night - for an out-of-date medical marijuana prescription.The problem - and a potential solution"Licensing's the number one issue we've been dealing with in recent times," says Elaine Linnell, general manager of the Events Association, an industry body representing the majority of the country's events and promoters. She agrees that battles against police and health authorities over alcohol licensing issues has become a major headache for many promoters.She believes outdoor events are an "easy target" for police."There's no rhyme or reason to it," she says. "Police are being harder on us."Linnell says there have been "inconsistent" interpretations of licensing rules around the country, depending on how authorities read the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.In an attempt to solve the issue, they have proposed a solution, an assessment tool that would allow promoters to self-regulate and mitigate any risk at the events they're trying to put on. It's been submitted to ministers, but Linnell says she's yet to hear anything back. And so, promoters are stuck in limbo, battling police over licenses for every single outdoor show they're trying to put on."They're really frustrated," she says."If you look at this overseas you're just not seeing this at all. Here, it doesn't feel like you're trusted to be an adult."Stuart Clumpus, a veteran promoter with 40 years of experience, agrees. He believes the strict conditions being enforced by police are creating unnecessary problems at outdoor events."Queues are the thing that pisses everybody off at a gig," he says.Yet, police will often dictate drink limits on punters, allowing them to buy two, or only one, drink at a time. Rather than decreasing intoxication, Clumpus believes it encourages it."If there's a big queue, everybody goes, 'I'd better buy as many as I can."Clumpus struggles to understand what police are trying to achieve. In a 2024 report, Manatū Hauora (The Ministry of Health) estimated the harm caused by alcohol abuse at $9.1 billion annually, but said the majority of that came from low to moderate consumption.If police are trying to address alcohol abuse, Clumpus believes a summer festival isn't the place to do it. He points to the price of a drink at a festival - often $12 or $13 each - as prohibitive to excessive drinking."I genuinely don't believe giving people a hard time at a one-off show makes any kind of dent to it," he says.Turnbull, from Rhythm & Alps, says he already employs up to 90 security staff at his festival. With his track record, he thinks police should trust him to run his events in a safe and efficient manner."We want to treat ticket-holders like adults," he says. "Our customers are having a good time. They don't want to be queued up. If you treat people badly, they're going to behave [badly]. The police need to work with us on this. They do not have the experience to manage large crowds. They do not have experience in doing these events ... they're barking up the wrong tree."Why NZ police are doing thisRNZ used the Official Information Act to request access to all NZ police communications regarding their presence at Summer Haze and other summer events. Police turned it down, saying the request was too broad and would take too much time to process.Instead, the police media team agreed to provide "general comments" about police attitudes towards summer music events where alcohol was being served. That statement gives some indication of why increasing numbers of police are attending outdoor festivals and opposing liquor licences."Police attend most, if not all, of these events and unfortunately over recent years have observed high levels of intoxication, physical assaults and disorder," a spokesperson says.The spokesperson also claims there were incidents only police knew about."We have investigated sexual assaults and know that high numbers of sexual assaults occur but are not reported," they say. "These are typically all related to alcohol consumption. We have been working collectively around the motu in a consistent manner to reduce these risks and facilitate safe events for everyone that attends."RNZ requested statistics to back up police claims of "high levels" of intoxication, disorder and sexual assaults but was told they weren't available."It's anecdotal info from individuals who speak of inappropriate behaviour but do not wish to make a report," a spokesperson says.They say that statement also related to incidents that happen in "bars and clubs on busy nights". (RNZ found a single allegation of a sexual assault this summer, at Raglan festival Soundsplash two weeks ago; also, after Kiwiburn festival earlier this week, organisers asked festival-goers to come forward with names of those who engaged in "non-consensual bum-slapping, trespassing, uncool language, theft, sex acts or open masturbation".)When asked for statistics on how many sexual assaults were reported at outdoor music events so far this summer, police didn't have that data at hand. "It's something we may be able to process under the Official Information Act," a spokesperson responded.Promoters hit back: 'That's misinformation'Every promoter spoken to by RNZ disputed those police statements. Turnbull, from Rhythm & Alps, says it's an example of the "misinformation" he's heard from police during his liquor licence hearings."They don't have any evidence," he says.Linnell, from the Events Association, says she's seen statistics showing alcohol-related incidents are going down, not up."We have data from venues and St John which allude to the opposite, and that intox rates are trending downwards," she says.Clumpus went one further, accusing police of hiding behind their media team. He says promoters want someone senior to address their concerns and work with them.Benge agrees, saying there's no one he knows of at NZ police that he can get a straight answer from."The buck doesn't stop at a national level with one individual," he says. "There isn't someone who you can go to and say, 'How can we stop this problem?'"District Licensing Committees are administered by local councils. When approached for comment, the Queenstown Lakes District Council says it supports a variety of events in its region, but it isn't appropriate to comment on individual events like Rhythm & Alps; Tauranga District Council didn't respond to a request for comment by deadline.All promoters want to hold safe, reliable events, says Clumpus, who points towards sports fixtures like All Blacks or Black Caps games that can go ahead without the kinds of opposition and restrictions placed on outdoor festivals."We need to rely on the police force to deal with a very small minority of clowns so the rest of us can have a good time," he says."Someone having four wines at a Coldplay show isn't the problem."Turnbull wonders why so many police resources are being used on music festivals. "Police are under a lot of pressure, but they're going about it in completely the wrong way," he says.If this keeps going, he predicts there'll be far fewer events being held next summer, and that could mean bigger problems for police."If these New Year's festivals don't go ahead, they're going to have a lot of kids in the streets, around the lake fronts and in these hot spots causing shit ... If you've got 10,000 people in town, you've got a problem."Chris Schulz is a freelance entertainment journalist and the editor of the industry newsletter Boiler Room.

Formal consultation on next Annual Plan shelved
Formal consultation on next Annual Plan shelved

13 February 2025, 4:06 PM

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will not hold formal consultation on the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, following a narrow vote at yesterday’s (Thursday February 13) council meeting.Every three years the council adopts a Long Term Plan (LTP) and in the two intervening years it prepares and adopts an Annual Plan, which sets out spending priorities and determines rates.Normally there is also a public consultation period where members of the community can provide feedback on the Annual Plan in its draft form and - potentially - influence the final Annual Plan.At yesterday’s meeting QLDC corporate services general manager Meghan Miller told councillors there was “no change” in the Annual Plan to the average rates increase of 13.5 percent signalled in the LTP, nor any change to the “level of service” provided by the council.In addition to this, the LTP - which signalled three years of belt-tightening - was only approved in September last year, much later than usual, so full consultation was not necessary, she said.Councillors had mixed feelings on the proposal to cut out formal consultation.Councillor Esther Whitehead said she was “not comfortable taking away the formal process from the community”.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he could understand the reasoning for skipping formal consultation but noted that “this is actually the last opportunity for this council to put a mark on the planning for the future”.Other councillors, including Craig Ferguson and Cody Tucker, said the consultation process could bring “false hope” about additional spending that wasn’t realistic.They supported the proposal to skip formal consultation, as did councillor Lyal Cocks, who said the council was still consulting in “lots of key areas”.QLDC will still distribute an information booklet and run an awareness campaign on the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, Meghan said.The community will be able to share general comments on online forum Let’s Talk but there will be no formal submissions or hearings.Public consultation will take place in March on planned changes to user fees and charges for council facilities, which Meghan said must be increased to keep the average rates increase at 13.5 percent.PHOTO: Wānaka App

ECO Fund applications open soon
ECO Fund applications open soon

13 February 2025, 4:04 PM

Applications will soon open for Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) annual ECO Fund.More than $1M is available for projects across Otago which protect, enhance, or promote the environment. The overall funding has increased from $918,000 last year to a total of $1.05M this year.It is spread across six categories and is open to a wide range of applicants, ORC ECO Fund assessment panel chair Alan Somerville said. Every year the ECO Fund has been oversubscribed and people should contact ORC staff now for advice on applying before applications open on March 1, he said. Applications will be open for only one month.Alan said the ECO Fund had supported community-led environmental projects around Otago since 2018.“It’s the communities who know what matters most locally and these funding programmes can empower them to turn those great ideas into action.”Local recipients from previous years have included Friends of Bullock Creek, Hāwea Charitable Trust, Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust, and many more.To assist 2025 applicants, ORC is running a webinar on February 25 and ORC staff are also part of in-person funding clinics, which are being run by the Otago Community Trust.ORC environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell the ECO Fund is a great example of the ORC and communities in Otago working together. “These programmes enable communities to either take first steps to begin a new project, or continue and enlarge existing projects, to improve the state of the environment across numerous types of needs,” she said. Find more information about the ECO Fund, including the categories, grant values, webinar and in-person information sessions, here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Tutors announced for music summit 
Tutors announced for music summit 

13 February 2025, 4:00 PM

Tutors and speakers have been announced for the 10th YAMI (Youth + Adults in the Music Industry) summit, which will take place in Wānaka at the start of NZ Music Month (May 3-4).Musicians from Home Brew, The Teskey Brothers, The Black Seeds, Latinaotearoa, Haz & Miloux, The Nudge, The Nomad, Black Comet, and Gin Wigmore will be joining the summit, as will a number of talented local artists including Anna and Rick Shaw and Laura Lush.Participants will learn to navigate the music industry with workshop and seminar topics covering performance, DJing, songwriting, beatmaking, royalties and distribution, album release, marketing and management. New classes this year include ‘musical matchmaker’, sampling and looping, releasing an album, and vocal and guitar masterclasses.YAMI director Lynne Christie said support from the music industry is vital as most of the crew are volunteers."The staff, tutors and speakers from all sectors of the creative and events industries are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge; they tap into focussed hacks that guide talented artists to the next level," she said.Gin Wigmore, who will be guiding songwriters and composers, said she was "delighted” to be a part of the summit, and award-winning artist Tom Scott (Homebrew, Avantdale Bowling Club, @Peace) said he had heard about the summit through other musicians and was looking forward to mentoring committed performers, writers and producers. Scott's manager Lorraine Barry (who also manages Sir Dave Dobbyn, Aidan Fine, Home Brew, and Avantdale Bowling Club) will also speak and guide at the summit along with Karyn Rachtman of Mind Your Music, who curates the soundtracks for some of the most influential movies and tv shows of the past two decades.Representatives from NZ On Air, APRA, IMNZ and NZ Music Commission deliver an often unheard perspective to steer future recording artists through the next stages of their career.Early bird tickets for the summit have sold out, but standard places for Junior (ages 10 to 13 years), Youth (ages 14 to 18 years) and Adult (ages 19 to 110 years) are still available at Ticketfairy.

Wānaka AFC prepares for 2025 season with new Southern League team
Wānaka AFC prepares for 2025 season with new Southern League team

12 February 2025, 4:04 PM

Wānaka Associated Football Club (AFC) is gearing up for an exciting 2025 football season as the club enters the Southern League for the first time.The club secured a historic promotion to the Southern League last season and has been busy recruiting talent over the summer."Having a team in the Southern League is a huge step forward for Wānaka football,” Wānaka AFC director of football Ben Sippola said.“It’s an incredible opportunity for our players and the community to experience a high level of competition right here in our backyard." Wānaka AFC director of football Ben SippolaThere will be an influx of talent into the newly formed Southern League squad, including players from top US universities, Canada, the Wellington Phoenix Academy, Christchurch United Football Academy, and other elite football programmes in New Zealand. Around 15 players are relocating to Wānaka to join the team, bringing the total squad size to approximately 20–22 players.To support its growing ambitions, the club is actively seeking sponsorship. Head of sponsorship Nick Engel is spearheading a campaign called the Summit Club, inviting 20 local businesses to collectively sponsor the new team by contributing approximately $2,500 each. The funds raised will be used to upgrade dugouts, and to establish a PA system and video equipment."Financial sustainability is a big focus for us," Ben said."The Southern League comes with added costs, and ensuring we have the resources to meet league requirements while maintaining our grassroots programmes is crucial. The community support has been fantastic so far."Despite its enthusiasm, Wānaka AFC faces challenges, particularly with training facilities. The club anticipates difficulties during the winter months, as the current pitches at the Wānaka Recreation Centre may struggle to accommodate the increased demand. "The facilities are great, but we’ll be stretched to our limits in June and July," Ben said. "We need to start discussions on long-term solutions for Wānaka sports."The Southern League season kicks off with a home game against Canterbury University on March 29, marking a significant milestone for the club and local football fans.PHOTOS: Supplied

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