Monday 09th December, 2019

Wanaka and Queenstown residents and business owners let out a collective sigh of relief this morning.

Both their respective lakes, Wanaka and Wakatipu, reached their peak levels earlier today without inflicting too much damage on the two townships.


Tuesday 26th November, 2019

It is the time of year when the honey bees are swarming across the thyme-covered slopes of Central Otago.

Unfortunately, the bees are wasting their time, with beekeepers being paid around $4 a kilogram for thyme honey, when it costs around $6 a kilo to make.


Monday 18th November, 2019

The upgraded Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown was officially opened by Health Minister David Clark on Friday.

Consent for the upgrade was granted in June last year and was funded by the Southern District Health Board to the tune of 9.3 million dollars.

However, some of the upgrade's major assets, such as a state-of-the art CT scanner, has to be paid for with local donations and fundraising.


Friday 15th November, 2019

Two southern rural fire officers who returned on Thursday from fighting Australian bushfires are describing the devastation as "heartbreaking".

The pair, who spent a week away working up to 14 hours a day, are happy to be back home for some well earned rest.


Wednesday 30th October, 2019

The New Zealand Dog Agility Championships were held for the first time in Cromwell over Labour Weekend.

It was a busy day four days for competitors from across the country.


Wednesday 23rd October, 2019
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More than a thousand school pupils from across the region descended on Queenstown this week, for the second annual Central Lakes Polyfest.

Pupils ranging in age from early childhood to eighteen took the stage in Queenstown to participate in kapa haka and Pasifika.

Numbers are almost double from last year, thanks to the enthusiasm of both teachers and pupils.

Polyfest has been running in nearby Invercargill for ten years, and attracts up to ten thousand pupils.

Which leaves organisers of the Queenstown-based event wondering if they've outgrown the venue.


Wednesday 16th October, 2019

In just over a week, an equestrian park is set to open at Shotover Country near Queenstown.

The owner says there's nothing else like it in the lower South Island, and they hope to attract both local and visiting horse lovers to the business.


Thursday 03rd October, 2019

A large housing development on Queenstown's former high school site will include 100 KiwiBuild apartments.

Minister of Housing Megan Woods formally announced the partnership between the Government and Ngai Tahu during a visit to the site yesterday.


Monday 30th September, 2019

Rural property owners in Queenstown are praising the fire and helicopter crews who tackled a massive scrub blaze on Saturday evening.

The fire burned an area of almost 150 hectares, and threatened homes in the remote area of Deep Creek about 40 minutes drive along Skippers Canyon Road.


Monday 30th September, 2019

Protesters in Queenstown have set their eyes on the New Zealand Petroleum Conference venue.

Around 35 protesters stationed themselves outside the front of the Millenium Hotel where the conference was being held, loudly voicing their displeasure at the attendees.