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th May -- 37rd May 271thst Jan Feb2018 2014
FIRST ON THE STREET
No No 434 648
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
8 J 4 O IN SI BS D E
enquiries@lwb.co.nz
There were probably a few sour faces around Queenstown last week when the Queenstown Winter Festival programme was officially announced. The key onmountain events are to be held at Cardrona, which is owned by the new festival sponsor Real Journeys, sparking a debate about tradition and geography. It’s sad to see a long-standing tradition changed, particularly crowd favourite the dog derby competition which has been held a little closer to central Queenstown at NZSki’s Coronet Peak “forever”. But festivals don’t run on feelings of nostalgia. It’s no wonder that festival managers are keen to support their new naming sponsor because there wouldn’t be much of a festival without one. Anyone who has been involved in festivals and events before will know that a cash injection is essential – this stuff doesn’t magically happen for free. One of the other main criticisms of the on-mountain events moving to Cardrona is that many don’t see that side of the Crown Range as part of Queenstown. Cardrona is Wanaka and there’s an odd ‘us versus them’ mentality between Queenstown and Wanaka. We are all part of the Queenstown Lakes District, but Wanaka is Wanaka, Queenstown is Queenstown and how dare a Wanaka ski field use the hallowed ‘Queenstown’ name. In the 43 years since the festival was dreamed up by a couple of blokes in Eichardt’s bar, the region has changed a lot and maybe our attitudes to the Crown Range divide needs to change too. We could build a wall and make Wanaka pay for it, or we could recognise that the two towns have a lot in common. Tourism is the region’s second gold rush and it’s hard to get past the fact that many jobs and businesses directly or indirectly rely on the tourism dollar. As Queenstown’s industry gets bigger so does Wanaka’s to the point where tourism organisations Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism could become one. As for the Queenstown Winter Festival the truth is, the event hasn’t been ‘Queenstown local’ for years. It has been a carefully marketed drawcard for the tourism industry for a long time and is subject to the whims of statistics and sponsors. But that doesn’t mean locals can’t get involved and enjoy it anyway. Cardrona is not far away and if the only people you meet there are not Queenstown local, don’t stress. We’re not at war and fraternising with the Wanaka locals is not a crime.
Winner of the Lone Star Super Rugby Last Man Standing Competition ‘Brooksy’ (middle) with Colin Russell and Jim Brown at Lone Star on Friday.
(Photo: Jodi Walters)
As far as Winter Festival is concerned, Queenstown is still the centre of attention. From the Matariki torchlight procession to the Brecon Street rail showdown and some epic comedy and music gigs, there’s still plenty to do in the CBD. That a few festival events have moved from one tourism giant to another isn’t that big of a deal and at the end of it all – it’s supposed to be fun and games. The Cardrona saga is an interesting twist that will hopefully breathe more life into our flagship winter marketing event. Bethany G. Rogers Geordie Off-Shore
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SAT 21st
RENTAL PROPERTIES
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JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 95% correct TUES
Fine at first. Then Showers
WED
THUR
Fine. Fine, some high Southwesterlies. cloud. Westerlies.
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
Fine, variable high cloud.
Rain with not much wind.
Rain, clearing around midday
Rain with not much wind.