Wednesday, October 23, 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, October 16, 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, October 3, 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, September 30, 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, September 30, 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.


Tuesday, September 24, 2019

New Zealand's best young hip hop dancers converged on Queenstown at the weekend for the for the national schools dance championships.

It is the first time the resort hosted the competition, and organisers say they were very pleased with ticket sales, with about 500 cheering fans attending the opening night.


Monday, September 23, 2019

Wagging tongues and tails were signs of happy hounds as they dashed through the snow at Coronet Peak for the 45th dog derby race.

Sunshine came to the party when around 80 dogs and their owners bolted down a freshly powdered mountain on Saturday.


Monday, September 23, 2019

The National Party is unlikely to stand in the way of expanding Wanaka airport, if elected next year.

That's according to Party leader, and former Transport Minister, Simon Bridges who visited Wanaka late last week.


Thursday, September 12, 2019

Favourite TV and movie theme songs will ring out for this year's Star on Ice fundraiser.

The event will see Queenstown skaters take to the ice rink dressed up and performing to the music of television theme songs.


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Central Otago's creative felters are gearing up for the biggest event on their craft calendars, in recent times.

More than 90 registrations have been received, for the 15th convergence of felters, affectionately dubbed "Felting Frenzy".


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

A war of words has erupted over the proposed Wanaka airport expansion.

This follows an accountant's analysis saying to be commercially viable, the airport would need a jet flight every ten minutes.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult says the report is fundamentally wrong.

But the report's author says the airport and council council are either hiding something or do not have all the information.


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

School pupils were busy on Tuesday planting flaxes and grasses at the Matakauri Wetlands near Queenstown.

Coming from nine different Central Otago schools, the pupils visited Queenstown on Tuesday as part of a hui on climate change


Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Some Queenstown residents are angry after two trees in the town centre were felled to make room for bus stops.

Three existing bus stops, on Camp Street, will move to Stanley Street to minimise disruption during upgrades to O'Connells Mall.

On Monday morning two large birch trees on Stanley Street were cut down, to make way for the new bus stop.


Monday, September 9, 2019

Minister of Education Chris Hipkins visited Queenstown last week to announce plans to pump $27 million into Otago and Southland schools.

The intention is to cater for growing school rolls and includes $17 million to build a new primary school near Queenstown.


Tuesday, September 3, 2019

A coroner has said a Czech tramper who died while hiking the Routeburn track three years ago was likely to have succumbed to hypothermia.

The 27-year old Ondrej Petr died near Lake Mackenzie after he and his partner became disoriented in bad weather.