An 18m high Santa which once adorned the Queens St Farmers building in Auckland for 60 years has made its way south and taken up residence at the National Transport and Toy Museum out at the airport.  Santa was built in 1960 by the Farmers department...... Read More

For a long as retired zoologist John Darby can remember there has not been a successful breeding pair of crested grebes on Lake Hāwea. But now there is! The pair have laid two eggs. “I have been aware that grebes have attempted to breed here...... Read More

When Krissy Bain determined on a tiny house for her and her two children and found a kind landowner who would allow her the space to carry out the build, she had no idea that ten months down the track her life would be a nightmare. Back in April, just...... Read More

A region-wide roadshow of community meetings about freshwater in Otago comes to a close this week, and people have just a few more days to share freshwater visions for their freshwater management unit or rohe. The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has been...... Read More

Re-imagining Queenstown Lakes District’s economy and community wellbeing has been the work of the Regenerative Recovery Advisory Group (RRAG) during the second half of this year.  This group of diverse individuals from across the district...... Read More

The Court of Appeal has granted Northlake Investments Ltd leave to appeal its District Court conviction for discharging contaminated water into the Clutha River from the subdivision in August 2017. The application was heard by three Court of Appeal...... Read More

Last Thursday the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) released its draft decision on Aurora’s proposed energy pricing increases for the Otago region, and Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult said he was “cautiously optimistic.” “I...... Read More

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) elected members have reappointed current Chief Executive Mike Theelen effective from February 2021. AT a meeting of full council on October 29 the recruitment process concluded with a decision by Council to appoint...... Read More

Wānaka Search and Rescue (Wānaka SAR) had its annual training exercise earlier this month in anticipation of a busy summer ahead.  Wānaka SAR is one of the busiest backcountry search and rescue groups in New Zealand, averaging 45-55 operations...... Read More

In what is the last grants round for the calendar year, Central Lakes Trust have granted a significant $1.8 million to 34 organisations throughout Central Lakes. The grant recipients are from a cross-section of sectors, with operational and programme...... Read More