It’s a ‘no’ for McDonald’s.Independent commissioners have declined McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through.In the decision released today (Wednesday February 12), the commissioners said the McDonald’s would have too many adverse effects on the rural-zoned site and neighbouring landscape.The McDonald’s team, pictured during the November hearing. PHOTO: Wānaka App“...we consider that the adverse effects on the environment are more than minor…on the approach to Wānaka, the landscape character and the visual amenity values of Mt Iron,” the commissioners said.“The [application for consent] by McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd is therefore declined”.Commissioners Helen Atkins (chair), Lisa Mein and Robert Scott said the effects of the McDonald’s on landscape character and visual amenity went “to the heart of the application”.The controversial proposal was the source of significant debate in the community. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe issues were hotly debated by the McDonald’s team and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planners, who had disagreed on whether the site - within Mt Iron Junction, near the SH6/SH84 intersection - was rural or urban in nature. Peter Greene, who co-owns the Mt Iron Junction site earmarked for the McDonald’s (alongside Wānaka businessman Steve Shikker), said he was philosophical about the decision.“From our point of view we’re just the landowner,” he told the Wānaka App. “The commissioners have made their decision and now it’s up to McDonalds. It’s just the way it is.”However, he argued that the site was not rural.“It’s not a rural general site, is it? It’s no more rural than across the road.” Meanwhile Wānaka grocer Jesse Herbert, who campaigned against the proposal, told the Wānaka App he was “ecstatic” with the decision.“I think no matter the decision the process was fair and the town definitely got heard,” he said.The restaurant was proposed for rural-zoned land near the SH6/SH84 intersection. PHOTO: Wānaka AppJesse said he believed someone at McDonald’s “made a real strategic error chasing that site” and he said other, less prominent options may have been more viable. The McDonald’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through was made public in November 2023 and it had hoped to open its doors by 2026.McDonald’s Restaurants NZ was approached for comment on the decision.

The man accused of murdering Karen White (60) in Lake Hāwea last year appeared in Queenstown District Court this morning (Wednesday January 12).He can now be named as Karen’s husband, Robert White (61), One News has reported.A plea of not guilty was entered on Roberts behalf and he was granted bail.Robert will reappear in the Invercargill High Court on March 4.Karen was killed in her Lake Hāwea home on March 8, 2024.Police launched a homicide investigation in November and a month later said they were following positive lines of enquiry.It wasn’t until earlier today (Wednesday February 12) that Otago Lakes Area Commander Inspector Paula Enoka confirmed a man had been charged with Karen’s murder and he would be appearing in court.Paula said police continue to support Karen’s family and friends.PHOTO: Supplied

At Kāhu Youth, we’re kicking off 2025 with a term full of fun, connection, and adventure! This term, we’re offering after-school clubs, drop-in sessions, and PULSE—our exciting fitness programme. Check out the details below, and click here for more info or to book!After-school ClubsKahu’s after-school clubs are filled with great activities for youth 11years+. Clubs start this week, it's not too late to join! Click here to book and for more info.Games Club Monday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $45.Join Kāhu Youth’s Games Club every Monday at Paetara Aspiring Central.Led by our resident gaming expert, Rayner, this club is your gateway to strategy, creativity, and fun. From board games to Dungeons & Dragons -and even computer gaming - there’s something for everyone.Whether you're a pro or just starting out, come roll the dice, level up, and forge new friendships.Putiputi Adventure ClubWednesday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $150. Sorry, this club is now fully booked.HustleThursday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $85Hustle is all about getting youth moving, encouraging physical activity and play. Activities lined up for term 1 include; beach day (swimming and beach sports), paddle boarding and kayaking, frisbee golf, cricket, pickleball, golf and jet boating!Taika Adventure ClubFriday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $150. Sorry, this club is now fully booked.Drop-In SessionsOur free drop-in sessions are open to youth aged 11+. A safe space to hang out with friends and have fun. Paetara Aspiring CentralTerm 1 Drop-In HoursWednesday: 3:00pm - 5.30pmThursday: 3:00pm - 5.30pmFriday: 3:00pm - 5.30pm Lake Hāwea Community CentreTerm 1 Drop-In HoursTuesday: 3:45pm – 5:30pm Transport Available to Lake Hāwea Community CentreHop aboard the Kāhu van every Tuesday after school from Paetara Aspiring Central (PAC) to our Hāwea Youth Centre, where exciting activities await you! Return transportation to PAC is provided, leaving Hāwea at 5:30pm. Secure your spot in the van (max 10) and join the fun by booking here!Tuesday Drop-In Activities:February 11 - Pickleball February 18 - Water FightFebruary 25 - Clay MakingMarch 4 - Pottery PaintingMarch 11 - Chilled Hang TimeMarch 18 - Bracelet MakingMarch 25 - PickleballApril 1 - MovieApril 8 - Chilled Hang TimePULSE is Back!Attention Year 9-10 students (and special exceptions for Year 7, 8, and 11)! Kāhu Youth, in collaboration with Fit Collective and with support from the Wānaka Police, is bringing back PULSE – an action-packed fitness programme designed to build resilience, strength, and teamwork.Feb 28 - 11 April, with 2 sessions per week.Wednesday 7am - 8:30am and Friday 7:00am - 9.00am.For more information on any of the above activities, please contact us here.Photo Credit: Deeanna Gerlach

A man is appearing in court today (Wednesday February 12) charged with the murder of Karen White last year.Ms White (60) was killed in her Lake Hāwea home on Friday March 8, 2024.“Following a lengthy investigation, police have now charged a 61-year-old man with murder, and he is due in Queenstown District Court today,” Otago Lakes Area Commander Inspector Paula Enoka said.“Police continue to support the family and friends of Ms White, and our condolences go out to them.”Otago Lakes Central Police launched a homicide investigation in November last year, eight months after her death.Police had initially described Ms White’s death as an “unexplained sudden death”.In December, police said they were following positive lines of enquiry.“We have confirmed the 60-year-old victim died as a result of injuries she sustained in a significant assault, and are speaking to a number of people who are assisting with enquiries,” Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher said in December.PHOTO: Supplied

The Wānaka A&P Show’s new ‘NZ Life & Leisure Local Larder’ space will highlight top food and drink producers at this year’s show.Billed as the ultimate destination for food lovers, it will offer show-goers a chance to taste some of the best artisan cuisine, both from the Upper Clutha and further afield, and meet the producers behind them.Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker told the Wānaka App the producers had been hand-picked to feature “a really nice mix of producers”.They include Taste of the Alps, Cardrona Distillery, Kiwi Artisan, Stir Tea and more.Another major drawcard of the Local Larder is chef and restauranter Peter Gordon (ONZM) who is travelling to Wānaka to provide two cooking demonstrations each day.Whanganui-born Peter has cooked for world leaders including Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, and he has eight cookbooks and numerous award winning restaurants to his name.Jane said Peter’s morning demonstrations (10.30am) will focus on restaurant-style dishes and in the afternoon demonstrations (1.30pm) Peter will teach show-goers how to use the best of what’s in their fridge or vegetable patch."Peter Gordon’s the ‘godfather of fusion cuisine’—he’s got a way of taking fresh, local ingredients and turning them into something delicious,” Jane said. “Whether you’re a keen home cook or just love good food, his live demos are going to be a real highlight."The Wānaka A&P Show - one of New Zealand’s biggest agricultural, pastoral and community events - will return to the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park on March 7-8.It will feature traditional drawcards like the equestrian, livestock and home industries events and family-friendly favourites like the Farmlands Farmyard, Rural Village and the entertaining Jack Russell race. The NZ Life & Leisure Local Larder area will be located near the A&P Show office and it will be open from 8.30am-5pm on both show days. For further details see A&P Show in your Wānaka App.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is seeking community feedback on its draft events policy.Events are a key part of what makes the district a great place to live in and visit, QLDC arts and events relationship manager Jan Maxwell said.The policy is being updated to clarify what the community wants from events, including economic benefits and wider considerations such as health and safety, community and environmental impact, she said.“Event organisers in Queenstown Lakes do a great job of putting on quality events while also coping with challenges such as unpredictable weather and strong demand on venues and parks.“The expectations on events, from both the community and participants, have also changed over time. For example, there is more expectation that events operate in a sustainable way.” Council-supported events vary from large-scale shows like Warbirds over Wānaka to smaller volunteer-led community events such as the Queenstown Multicultural Festival.The draft policy sets out eight objectives and four high-level principles that will direct the events QLDC supports. These objectives will be applied across all event-related processes including funding criteria. The Let’s Talk page also details upcoming hui in Wānaka, Queenstown and online where community members will be able to discuss the policy with council officers.     The policy will be most relevant to event organisers who request council funding or want to use council facilities, Jan said. Feedback closes at 5pm on Friday March 7.

The police say a missing man has not been located, despite a large-scale search of the Rob Roy Stream area today (Tuesday February 11). Argentinian backpacker Hector Gaston Artigau, 21, has been missing at Mt Aspiring National park since last Thursday (February 6), when a friend he had been hiking with saw him fall from a rock into the river.Police and Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) carried out extensive planning and preparation on Monday for a large-scale search which began at 7am this morning.The man was seen falling from a rock into the Rob Roy Stream. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe search included an aerial scan of the Rob Rob Stream area using underwater cameras, and searchers included police and specialty search and rescue units such as Land SAR canyon, river rescue, and sub alpine SAR.“We have yet to exhaust every conceivable possibility and will endeavour to do this to our full capability,” a police spokesperson said yesterday.A spokesperson confirmed at 5pm today that the man had not been located.Meanwhile a Givealittle page has raised over $9,000 to bring Artigau’s mother from Argentina to Wānaka.Erin Bennie of Leaning Rock Cherries in Alexandra set up the fundraiser.“Myself, friends, co-workers are trying to organise financial aid to help his mother come to New Zealand to be closer to the search for her son,” Erin said.“The money will be used to go towards flights, visa, translator, and other associated costs.”Erin said Hector worked the cherry season at the orchard. “He was a valued team member, we would like to do whatever we can to help his mum,” she said.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) is investigating a complaint about gold dredging on the Clutha/Mata-Au River near Tarras.Upper Clutha resident Kim Fogelberg told the Wānaka App that damage to the riverbank was discovered recently in an area of beach at a scientific reserve opposite Jolly Rd, Tarras.Kim said the dredge had dredged out over 100 metres of riverbank, where dredging is not a permitted activity.“I personally, have no issue with small, hobbyist dredging setups and believe there are many people out there who enjoy dredging in a responsible and low-impact way,” she said.More than 100 metres of river bank have been dredged, according to a complaint.“However, this particular setup has shown that some individuals cannot be trusted to act responsibly.”Kim said the rules exist to stop riverbank erosion, which destabilises a naturally formed environment.“It would be easy for this dredge to operate elsewhere in the Upper Clutha, in areas with limited access except by river, away from the public eye,” she said.ORC compliance manager Carlo Bell confirmed that ORC was aware of the complaint, which was lodged through the council’s pollution hotline in January.“The matter is still subject to a current investigation,” Carlo said. “As that investigation has not yet concluded we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”PHOTOS: Supplied

The Luggate Community Association (LCA) is celebrating a year of progress, collaboration and long-term projects coming to fruition.Luggate’s public facilities are being well used, new initiatives like a Lilliput Library and food pantry and new businesses are popping up, and local events are adding to the sense of community and vibrancy in Luggate, according to outgoing LCA chair Rod Anderson.“For me [2024] has been a very satisfying year as instead of complaining about not getting things done we have had a number of satisfying results,” Rod said at the recent LCA AGM.The “greatest news” of the past year was the announcement that the Luggate drinking water scheme upgrade has been brought forward, Rod said.Last year’s AGM was dominated by concerns over the timing for the long-awaited upgrade, which had been deferred until 2027, and whether the existing supply had the capacity to cope until then.After a faster and cheaper delivery method was discovered, and the upgraded system (comprising two new supply bores, access to a new water source, and a new ultraviolet treatment plant) is now due to be operational by the coming summer. “It is great to see it cross the line,” Rod said.Rod said the Luggate Memorial Centre was being used by “an increasing number of varying groups” and the new playground, which officially opened in May last year, “is getting used more each day”. “It was a great asset when the farmer’s market was held [in Luggate] just prior to Christmas.”He said the food pantry, Lilliput Library, ‘Story Walk’, and information board about Luggate Creek were all great additions to Luggate.Rod also thanked volunteers who had contributed to the continuation of Luggate’s green waste scheme, which he said was a “giant plus to the community”, as well as volunteers who helped with the local predator trap line, which “has already helped to improve the bird life” on the Devil’s Nook walking track.Rod said a new business was operating from the former Upper Clutha Transport garage in Luggate, which had attracted visitors, and a new coffee cart “is also creating a stopping point for travellers”.It could be “a sign of things to come…” Rod said.Rod thanked LCA members for all their hard work and “commitment to the life of the village”.Judy Thompson was appointed as the new LCA chair during the AGM and Rod is now the deputy chair.PHOTO: Wānaka App

More than 2,900 athletes will compete across a range of events at the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival this week (February 13-15).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.Christchurch-based professional triathlete Mike Phillips, who has competed at Challenge Wānaka five times, is one of the familiar faces returning to the Challenge Wānaka Half on Saturday.Seasoned competitor Tom Somerville will also take on the new course this year, along with professional triathlete Michael Tong. New Zealand athlete Tom Moulai, a former NCAA track star, is another athlete eager to test himself on the updated course, and Australian athlete Bailey Powell, a former elite hockey player who recently moved to Wānaka, will make his debut at the event this year. Auckland-based triathlete Xander Marsh, former champion Craig Savage, and local triathlete Laurie Watson will also take on the challenges of the updated course.The women's field at the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half showcases homegrown talent, with local standout Danielle Donaldson returning after winning the overall age-group title in 2024. Just a week after conquering the Kathmandu Coast to Coast and being crowned the 2025 World Multisport Champion, Deborah Lynch will make a quick transition from multisport to triathlon for the Challenge Wānaka Half.Local pro triathlete Bec Clarke, who is still recovering from injury, will compete in a team, aiming to retain her title as the fastest female swimmer.The triathlon festival will include more than 2,100 children competing in the Puzzling World Mini, Junior and Intermediate Challenges, the Mitre 10 Mega Adaptive Challenge, and Secondary Schools Challenge on Friday. PHOTO: Supplied

A large-scale search will commence tomorrow morning (Tuesday February 11) as police and Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) continue their work to locate a man reported missing in a river in Mt Aspiring National Park last Thursday. Today police carried out extensive planning and preparation for a large-scale search commencing at 7am on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said.“Specialty search and rescue units including Land SAR canyon, river rescue, and sub alpine SAR will be in the area around Rob Roy Stream as we work to locate the missing man,” the spokesperson said.“The search will also involve an aerial scan of the Rob Roy Stream area in its entirety, and underwater cameras.“We have yet to exhaust every conceivable possibility and will endeavour to do this to our full capability.”Police thanked all the volunteers involved in the search and Aspiring Helicopters.Artigau Héctor Gastón, a 21-year-old from Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been named by media as the man swept away last week.His friends posted on social media that he was last seen on Thursday at around 4:30pm, approximately 600 meters from the Upper Lookout Rob Roy (near the river), Mt Aspiring National Park.PHOTO: Wānaka App Read more: Search for missing man in river continues

Wānaka’s Ben Richards (25) finished in third place at the Kicking Horse stop of the 2025 Freeride World Tour in British Columbia, Canada on Sunday (February 9). It was Ben’s second podium finish of the season.“It was amazing, I love Canada and being in BC and I have a lot of friends around here so I am pumped,” he said.  As one of the first riders to drop into the venue in the men’s ski category, Ben had a long and nervous wait to see if his score of 87.67, which put him in provisional second place, would hold up for a podium finish.“It was a stressful wait but I couldn’t be more stoked to land on the podium,” Ben said. Ben came into the event looking to change his approach after finishing eighth in Val Thorens just over a week ago.He opted for a unique line on the ‘Ozone Face’ entering from the skiers far right and immediately put his foot on the gas, throwing a stylish 360 over the cliff band at the top before stomping a huge, lofty front flip off the final feature at the bottom of his run.Watch Ben's run here.Marcus Goguen of Canada took the win with Abel Moga (Spain) in second place. Ben is currently in third place on the overall rankings, with two events to go before the cut to the finals in Verbier, Switzerland at the end of March. The next stop on the Tour will be in Georgia, with the weather window set to start on February 23.PHOTO: B. Long / Freeride World Tour

The body of a young woman was found in the Timaru River, near Lake Hāwea, last week, police have confirmed.A police spokesperson told the Wānaka App the body was located in the river on Wednesday (February 5).“The death is not considered to be suspicious and has been referred to the coroner,” the spokesperson said.Some media outlets have reported that the body was found on Te Araora Trail, which runs alongside part of the river.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A vital piece of medical equipment – the LifePak 35 - has been acquired by the Wānaka Overnight Acute Care service, with the help of a donation from the Ray & Elsie Armstrong Trust.The LifePak 35 is capable of measuring a full set of vital signs, conducting electrocardiograms (ECGs), and correcting abnormal rhythms. "This donation is a game-changer for Wānaka Overnight Acute Care and the wider Wānaka community," Central Otago Health Services Ltd (COHSL) chief executive Hayley Anderson said."The LifePak 35 allows us to streamline our patient care process, ensuring we can quickly assess, monitor and treat acute conditions,” she said, adding that the life-saving device “significantly enhances the centre’s ability to provide top-tier care in emergency situations”. The addition of this equipment will play a pivotal role in improving the efficiency of patient triage, allowing staff to make rapid, informed decisions about the next course of action for those in need, Hayley said.She thanked the Ray & Elsie Armstrong Trust for the generous contribution towards the acquisition of the LifePak 35.Ray & Elsie Armstrong Trust trustee Simon Telfer said the trust was “delighted to play a part in expanding healthcare services in the Upper Clutha region, supporting those in need outside of normal clinical hours”.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Rowing Club sent 17 junior rowers to the Meridian South Island Club Rowing Champs at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel, from February 1-2, with one crew bringing back silver.The Wānaka rowers were supported by coach Angus Todd and assistant coaches Anton Jones and Phillip Massey, while coach Rob Bruce was involved in umpiring the event. The racks were filled with racing boats and skiffs from across the South Island and spectators enjoyed dazzling heats on Saturday and hard fought finals on Sunday.Having placed second in their heat with a time of 7.45.30 on the 2km course in the Men’s Novice Coxed Quad Sculls, the Wānaka crew qualified in lane three for the A final on Sunday.Building on their strong start, Lachlan Hay (stroke), Douglas Wise (3 seat), MacKenzie Hay (2 seat), Tyler Gawn (bow) and Emily Hunt (coxswain) maintained the pressure down the course, shredding their qualifying time to finish behind gold medallists Oamaru in 7.26.97, and fighting off Cashmere by split seconds to claim silver.Silver medallist crew (from left): Douglas Wise, MacKenzie Hay, Tyler Gawn, Lachlan Hay, Angus Todd (coach) and Emily Hunt (front, coxswain).Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College junior rowers are now counting down to the Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro (March 24). As a fundraising initiative the Wānaka crews are doing gardening and yard work for $30 an hour per rower. People looking for fit, strong, hardworking, well disciplined rowers to undertake suitable work can contact [email protected] to book a crew.PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka athletes Simone Maier and Hamish Elliott both placed second in their respective Coast to Coast Longest Day races on Saturday (February 8).The two athletes were the defending champions for the men’s and women’s events, and the favourites to win again this year.The race started on the West Coast and traversed the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast with the finish at New Brighton Beach, Christchurch.Simone was on the brink of making history as she chased her sixth victory in the women's category, which would’ve made her the first woman to secure six titles, surpassing the legendary Kathy Lynch (Motueka).She placed second to Deb Lynch (Porirua), at 13:10:30 just four minutes behind Deb’s 13:06:11.“It was fantastic,” Simone said.“It’s second place but I wanted to race, and I did say whoever beats me deserves it, and, today, Debbie had an amazing race.”Hamish, the defending men's champion, claimed his first title in 2024 with a remarkable time of 10 hours, 48 minutes, and 53 seconds.  This year he placed second (11:33:47) to Tasmanian Alex Hunt, just four minutes behind the Australian’s time of 11:29:20.Find a full list of results here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Police say the search for a missing man in a river in Mt Aspiring National Park is continuing today (Sunday February 9).The man has been missing since Thursday evening after falling from a rock into the river and failing to resurface.Wānaka Land Search and Rescue (SAR) canyon, river rescue, and sub-alpine/bush specialised teams are involved in the search.Wānaka Land SAR chair Raewyn Calhaem told the Wānaka App she was grateful to the SAR volunteers “who are giving up their time with friends and family, and at work, to assist with the search”.“We have swiftwater and bush teams involved in the field, and an incident management team back at base,” Raewyn said. “Within the search area there are some complex water systems with fast moving, turbulent and very cold water.“We are extremely lucky to have the specialist equipment required to perform these types of searches thanks to donations from the local community and grants from Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust and the Lion Foundation.”A police spokesperson also thanked Aspiring Helicopters for assisting police with aerial searches and transporting search teams into the area.Artigau Héctor Gastón, a 21-year-old from Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been named by the Otago Daily Times as the man swept away on Thursday.Artigau Héctor Gastón has been named by some media as the missing man.The man arrived in New Zealand in September 2024.His friends posted on social media that he was last seen on Thursday at around 4:30pm, approximately 600 meters from the Upper Lookout Rob Roy (near the river), Mt Aspiring National Park.PHOTOS: Supplied

Upper Clutha huts or tracks could be in line for additional maintenance and upgrades if funding for the ‘Community Hut Programme’ is applied locally.The Department of Conservation (DOC) has received $4.2M from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) to work with the Backcountry Trust (BCT) and others to maintain highly-valued huts and tracks.“The Community Hut Programme will support others to maintain huts and tracks on public conservation land through volunteer work and donated materials,” DOC heritage and visitors director Catherine Wilson said.BCT national operations manager Rob Brown said DOC and BCT planned to work in partnership with the hunters, fishers, trampers and others who use DOC huts and tracks - and they want to hear from anyone with a project in mind.A successful partnership spurred by government funding made possible a significant upgrade to Aspiring Hut - one of the DOC-managed huts in Mt Aspiring National Park - a few years ago.First envisioned as an earthquake repair job with funding from the former Jobs for Nature programme, the project snowballed into a substantial upgrade for the popular hut after the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) secured support from a range of donors.The result is a future-proofed hut better equipped for the 3,000 or so bed nights it receives each year.Catherine said DOC needed additional support to look after the vast area it maintains, which covers around a third of the country.DOC experiences are in “high demand” from Kiwis and international visitors, she said. “This popularity, combined with remote locations and increasing climate change pressures, puts strain on the visitor network and creates high maintenance costs.”“We want to deliver a shared backcountry network that connects people to nature through recreation and builds a collective commitment to the backcountry for future generations.”Any groups or individuals with a project should get in touch with BCT to discuss and get more information.PHOTO: NZAC

Luggate’s Hunter Burke (22) has just returned from a three month stint in Europe honing his skills at luging, a challenging sport involving aerodynamics, speed and accuracy.Hunter’s training and racing programme included events in Germany, Latvia, Austria, Norway and a few days off in Italy over Christmas with some friends.Hunter said he was most proud of his 26th placing in Altenberg.“Since moving up to the senior circuit I’m competing against a lot of experienced athletes so I kept my expectations realistic,” he said.“It was my first time going from the men's start from that track. I only had nine runs down the track before race day so I wasn’t expecting much but I put down quite a clean run and I was very happy with that result.”After taking part in seven of the scheduled 10 world cup races Hunter was ranked 38th from 56 athletes, hailing from 20 different countries. Hunter is a two-time NZ champion in luging and he achieved an 18th place finish in the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games.His talents span to another icy sport - Hunter is part of the team who have won the NZ Junior men’s Curling title for the past three years.Hunter on Igls track in Innsbruck, Austria which was used in the 1976 Olympic Winter Games and the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. PHOTO: Supplied One of his longer term goals is to reach the Winter Olympics in the luge, to be held in February 2026 in Northern and Northeast Italy. “Qualifications [for] the 2026 winter games have already started and I’m on my way to meeting the criteria,” he said.“Next season will be a real challenge as I’ll have to compete against seven other nations in the overall rankings for one of the last spots. I’ve got a lot of preparation to do between now and then so I’m ready when the season starts.”Hunter has been studying civil engineering at Otago Polytechnic, and has one more year until he’ll finish his degree. Last year he took a gap year to work and make money to help fund this recent trip.“I would like to thank all of the supporters who follow the New Zealand Luge Facebook page and write in every week with their supportive messages, [also] all the people who donated to my fundraiser as I wouldn’t have had the funds to go without them. And the biggest thanks goes to my mum for running all the fundraisers and supporting me for all these years.”The International Luge Federation World Cup was held in Winterberg Germany in mid January, Hunter missed qualifying for a final by 1.5 seconds although improved upon his training time by more than half a second. PHOTO: New Zealand Luge FacebookLuge (where athletes race down an ice track lying feet first on a specialised sled, reaching speeds of 135km/h) is a small sport in New Zealand - the country’s only ice luge track is based in Naseby and the 360m track is the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.Hunter said he will be in Naseby as much as he can during the winter training hard.“My coaches are from Romania and Latvia so during the New Zealand winter they are not able to make it over. So during that time it’s really up to me to put in the effort and work on the things I know need improving.”“Since there are no artificial luge tracks… in the southern hemisphere my off season training mostly consists of working out.“Now that I’m back studying I’ve got a bit more time so I’ll be in the gym at least five times a week training to build as much muscle as possible.”Hunter made the decision last year to only compete in national competitions as he did not have the time and money to do both at an international level.