As I prepare to pass the baton as Director of Te Atamira, I’ve been reflecting on what it took from our community to create and nurture Tāhuna Queenstown’s arts and culture centre: imagination, vision, persistence - along with passion and generous investment.
Since opening four years ago, we’ve presented over 40 major free exhibitions. All of these have provided both residents and visitors from afar with unique perspectives on life. We’ve brought together the artists to share their insights and to offer workshops. We have even toured exhibitions to Pōneke and Melbourne.
Tāhuna is now recognised on the national cultural map, having recently earned recognition for being New Zealand’s second most creative city.
Yet I still often hear people say the arts are expensive and not essential. Really? Just look at the impact of arts tourism alone: arts and cultural visitors are high-value, low-impact and deeply regenerative. They don’t just take photos - they engage and invest and amplify our mahi.
In 2023, 5.64% of the Queenstown Lakes workforce, approximately 1800 people, were employed in arts and creative roles. Our 22 purpose-built spaces are a hive of activity from morning to night, booked out by our 94 resident musicians, artists, dancers and organisations.
At Te Atamira, we set out to do the arts differently - to create a space that’s accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone. Step by step, shaped by and with the community, we’ve built a platform of opportunity and connection, while intentionally arguing for and then demonstrating the critical role creativity plays in daily life.
You need only join the more than 2,000 visitors who come every week to see what I’m talking about. Our free community programmes alone attract over 570 locals a month, all of whom want to learn new skills, build friendships, and experience the joy of creating. I’m not exaggerating when I say that almost every week, someone tells me: “Te Atamira changed my life”.
Of course, none of this happens without funding. Whilst we generate 40% of our income, applying for grants is necessary, constant and time-consuming. So we are deeply grateful to the generous donors who believe in our kaupapa, and without whom we couldn’t have achieved what we have. You can start as a Patron today with the equivalent of just a coffee per week.
As Queenstown looks to its future, and the wonderful Ruth Heath steps into my role, the creative sector must not be seen as a ‘nice to have.’ It is a critical driver of prosperity, liveability, and identity. The arts remind us of our shared humanity. They foster empathy, connection, and imagination - the very foundations of resilient communities. If you haven’t already done so, please come visit us and see for yourself.
Olivia Egerton - Outgoing director Te Atamira
Queenstown Gymnastics’ Club Step 1 girls cleaned up at the Southern Champs, in Wanaka on Sunday winning team gold and individual 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Pictured are Lottie, Ida, Edie, Rosa, and Hazel
MAIN ARENA LINEUP
Residency woes - Queenstown losing valued workers
by Sue Fea
Qualifying for New Zealand work visas under confusing and difficult skilled migrant rules is proving to be a major, and sometimes heartbreaking, issue for many local migrant workers and their families.
Queenstown Citizens Advice Bureau general manager Tracy Pool says that because of the way the skill levels are set some hardworking, valued and much needed workers have to leave NZ after five years.
In other cases, fathers who qualify for residency will come here ahead to get established and then bring their wives and partners over with the children, only to find the wife - if she’s on a lower skill level, can’t stay beyond five years, Pool says.
Children who don’t have both parents qualifying for a low skill work visa are not funded to attend NZ schools either, so they’re missing an education.
“Unless one parent is on the right skill level the children can’t go to school here. If you’re a cleaner, waitress, or even work in a rental car company, you won’t get your kids here on visas that allow them to go to school,” she says. “We’ve had a couple of families bring their kids out and then find they can’t afford to pay the rent. A number have required help with food parcels.”
Pool says they’ve seen some apparent morally unfair cases, just because of the way the skill level rules are set, with those who would seem most deserving missing out while others breeze through.
“For a skilled person with no degree, like a bar manager or a builder, the rules say they’re out in five years, whereas the likes of a plumber and electrician quality.”
Pool says it’s frustrating with one local Japanese refrigeration engineer finding out recently after working here for four years that he doesn’t qualify for residency in a sector where there are shortages in NZ. It was heartbreaking telling these people that they didn’t meet the criteria, she says. “This guy was gutted, and his employer needs him. There are some good people who will never qualify, and we have to burst their bubble when they come in to enquire,” she says.
In another case a young British man with a degree, who the bureau referred to an immigration advisor, was told he didn’t fit the criteria despite working as a bar manager locally. “He’s gutted too,” Pool says. In other skill sectors if you
have an overseas degree, regardless of whether it is relevant to the job, you gain automatic points towards qualifying for residency, but a tradesperson, like a builder – another skill we need here, doesn’t because they’re not on the shortage list,” Pool says.
“Gaining residency for our migrant population is the single biggest issue we’re facing at the bureau at the moment,” she says.
“We’re seeing a lot of very disappointed people who realise they won’t meet the criteria and requirements for residency. They thought they did but find out that they don’t. It’s so hard having to tell them.”
Queenstown Citizens Advice Bureau general manager Tracy Pool outside the bureau’s busy downtown base
Queenstown supermarket loses $30k to shoplifters
by Sue Fea
Shoplifters made off with around $30,000 worth of goods from Pak’nSave Queenstown in the past 12 months, a whopping 99% increase.
Owner Michelle King says the items were stolen across 662 incidents of shoplifting between 1 July, 2024, and 30 June, 2025, up from 266 incidents in the previous 12 months.
Some 370 people were involved and many more are believed to have slipped through the net.
Multiple trespass notices have been issued to the culprits through the Police, who’ve been very active in trying to nail the problem – an automatic Pak’nSave shopping ban in place for two years for those people, much to their surprise.
“We get the ‘I’m very sorry’ emails and ‘it was unintentional’, ‘please can we continue to shop with you’.” The reply is, ‘No, you can’t!’” King says. “We encourage them to tell their friends, that they now can’t shop at Queenstown’s lowest priced supermarket.”
The trespass notices are issued as a deterrent and while some offenders claim they do it to survive, or it’s a cost-of-living thing, King says smoked salmon, Manuka honey, protein powders and energy drinks, razor blades and chocolate aren’t essential to survive.
Others buy chicken and chips from the deli and eat them on the way around the supermarket.
“We ‘re seeing all ages and a variety of nationalities – local residents, and visitors, people from all socio-economic means.”
Items can be stuffed down trouser legs and in pockets and offenders often pay for the essentials then steal the luxury items. Others leave the luxury items in their reusable shopping bags and pay for the rest.
Baskets make a return
“We’ve just reinstalled shopping baskets and we’re trying to discourage people from putting their items into reusable shopping bags and use these baskets instead while inside the store,” King says.
Signage is being installed to encourage shoppers to pack items into baskets first. She says the problem has become way worse in the last five years.
“We’ve gone from identifying the occasional theft once a week to identifying daily offending.”
They’ve invested more resource into trying to combat the problem and despite the extra focus on loss prevention they just seem to keep unearthing even more offending, she says. “This is obviously reflected in these large increases in dollars lost and people involved each year.”
“We can’t identify every instance, so those figures are only from recorded instances this past two years.”
Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, some $14,794 worth of goods were identified stolen, across 266 occasions, with 151 people involved. That rose to $29,423, across 662 occasions, with 370 people involved in the 12 months to 30 June, 2025.
Police involved
The Police support has been “awesome”, she says. “They often visit and have a look around, their presence very valuable.” All evidence on any new offending is loaded into the store’s system for Police to see. “They’re locating offenders and prosecuting where they can.”
Police put out a call recently urging people to tell shop staff throughout the district about any suspicious behaviour amid a big spike in retail theft around Queenstown and Wanaka in recent months, with petrol stations being hit too.
They warned those giving it a go that surveillance and security systems are very good now at detecting theft.
“We’re looking at every incident when we have footage and registration numbers. Where we can we will take action,” Sergeant Simon Matheson says.
While Pak’nSave would be one of the worst hit, Matheson says there’s been a marked increase in retail theft around Queenstown and Wānaka in recent months, with petrol stations being hit too.
He says Police are working closely with partner government agencies to try and overcome the problem. “Judging by the items they’re stealing they’re clearly not stealing to survive,” he says.
Accident warning from patrollers
by Sue Fea
Queenstown’s Volunteer Community Patrollers say it’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious nighttime incident with young people wearing dark clothing riding scooters and cycles around town and the wider basin.
To make matters worse, Queenstown Community Patrol chairperson Gary Lonsdale says most of these riders are not wearing helmets.
“Very rarely do we see them wearing helmets,” he says. Patrollers, who are constantly driving around in their Community Patrol car to help keep people safe, sometimes even notice people walking home in dark clothing that’s not visible across the main Lower Shotover Bridge late at night, after catching the bus.
Walking through the BP Roundabout roadworks at Frankton in dark clothing at night is also very dangerous, he says.
“It makes them very hard to notice. It’s only a matter of time until something serious happens.”
Volunteer patrollers have also noticed a lot of younger people, some aged as young as 14, 15 and 16, intoxicated and hanging around downtown and causing issues at night in recent weeks.
“I guess they’ve got nothing to do and so the make their own fun like moving traffic cones and things like that,” Lonsdale says. While patrollers call Police in in situations like that, he’s hoping the presence of patrollers may act as a deterrent.
He’s also urging people to make the most of the Patrol which now carries a jump battery starter on board and is getting a new defibrillator.
“We’re all trained in First Aid so please, when you see us about either walking or in the patrol car, let us know if we can help,” Lonsdale says. “The police do a great job in very difficult conditions, so if you see us about in our patrol car and see anything that you’re concerned about please stop us and inform us so we can take the necessary action and report it to the police for further action if needed. We’re trying to keep you safe by being the eyes and ears of the Police.”
Lonsdale says they’d love new volunteers too – even anyone who can donate just one night a month. Please call Gary Londsdale on 0272247977.
Pak’nSave Queenstown owner Anthony King with some of the more common ‘high’ value’ items targeted in their store by shoplifters
Shoplifters are targeting the ‘nice to haves’
Exciting News!
Gems Miro is now offering delicious, nutritious cooked lunches for our tamariki! Simply send morning and afternoon tea snacks from home, and we'll take care of a wholesome, balanced midday meal.
3 great sites offer a nurturing environment for young children to learn and grow
Enquire today: enrol@gems.net.nz
Introducing one of our new dentists at Remarkables
Dental
Dr Alejandra Sanchez
Alejandra (Ale) graduated as a dentist in Colombia in 2012 and spent five years working in the public sector, gaining solid experience in general dentistry and community care. Her adventurous nature brought her to New Zealand in 2017, where she quickly fell in love with the lifestyle and natural beauty. Ale is fluent in both Spanish and English, and enjoys connecting with patients from all walks of life. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring New Zealand’s landscapes, hiking, travelling, cooking, and spending time with friends.
Ale is excited to start seeing patients at Remarkables Dental! She starts with us on 11th July and will be working Fridays and Saturdays.
Our experienced hygienists also have appointments available Monday – Saturday. on
CRIMELINE
Aussie and taxi driver in punch up
by Sue Fea
A 33-year-old Australian man has been charged with assault after he allegedly kicked a local taxi driver in the head, with the 33-year-old taxi driver also charged with alleged wilful damage.
Police were called to Camp Street at 11.20pm on Saturday, 19 July, after an argument and scuffle between the pair.
“The passenger got out of the vehicle and allegedly took a photo of the vehicle’s registration number,” Constable Amanda Shute says. The driver then got out of the vehicle and allegedly hit the phone out of the passenger’s hand causing it to land on the footpath, which cracked the screen.
“The passenger, in response, has allegedly lashed out and kicked the driver in the head, leading to both men having a scuffle and being separated by members of the public.”
Assaults after removed from bar
In still more violent offending, Police were called to Shotover Street at 10.30pm last Wednesday, 16 July, after one of two men removed from a bar allegedly pushed the other man in the chest and spat on him.
Shute says the suspect left briefly and then returned, pushing and spitting on a second victim. He left prior to Police arriving but was located in another local bar on Saturday. The man was arrested and charged with two charges of assault.
$750k damage to Frankton properties
Police say there has been $750,000 worth of damage to townhouses in Frankton over the weekend.
Officers are investigating a reported burglary and wilful damage to properties on Omeara Street, Frankton, sometime between 8pm Friday, 18 July, and 8am Saturday, 19 July.
“It is believed the offender has entered a number of properties on Omeara Street, Frankton and caused significant damage to the properties,”
Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher says.
“Initial indications suggest there has been in excess of $750,000 worth of damage during the incident.
“Police are making enquiries to identify and locate those responsible.”
Police have not detailed the full damage to the properties but say it includes water damage.
There are new Five Mile Villas townhouses by Auckland developer Gibbons Co on the street, along with established blocks of townhouses.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage in the Omeara Street area.
If you have any information that may assist police, contact Police on 105. Use the reference number 250719/1583.
Drink driving charge
A 37-year-old local man has been charged with drink driving after a minor vehicle collision in Fernhill at 10.10pm on Monday, 21 July.
Shute says a vehicle collided with another parked vehicle and the driver allegedly blew 722mcg. He’s been charged with operating a vehicle carelessly and drink driving.
Meanwhile, Police caught a number of alleged drink-drivers at checkpoints on 18 July. They include a 20-year-old local man, who allegedly blew 448mcgs, a 43-year-old Australian man, 707mcgs, and a 19-year-old Auckland man, 529mcgs. Drivers under 20 have a zero-alcohol limit. All are summonsed to appear in the Queenstown District Court.
WATCH REPAIRS NOW
For all your repairs, watches, clocks, batteries, key cutting & straps.
Level One, Stratton House (Below Sky City), 24 Beach Street, Queenstown Mon - Fri, 9.30am till 5.30pm. Closed on Saturdays. Phone/ text: 027 217 0442
when cost bookings free pass Thursdays 4.004.45pm, Starting 31 July
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An 8-week strength training programme for teenagers (ages 13-18) led by our quali ed gym instructors. Tailored to your tness level – no experience required.
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Unlock Your Potential: Insight Seminars Lands in Queenstown!
Get ready, Queenstown! Something truly special is happening this Labour Weekend. Insight Seminars, a globally renowned program for deep personal development, is arriving in New Zealand for the very first time, right here in the Queenstown Lakes District! It’s also making its return to the wider region after a decade, ready to welcome participants from all corners of the globe.
Born in the U.S. in 1978, Insight was founded by John-Roger and Russell Bishop with a powerful vision. As John-Roger put it: “Insight is here to assist us in transforming ourselves into loving, so that the greater transformation of the planet to loving will take place.” This isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a heart-led, non-profit approach to life. For over 45 years, Insight has educated over 1.5 million people in 46 countries with practical tools for living a successful, fulfilling life. People describe it as genuinely life-changing at a very deep level. This incredible event is happening thanks to a dedicated crew of volunteers. These passionate individuals are all Insight graduates from around the world, eager to share this empowering program with New Zealand.
Want a taste of what Insight offers? You’re invited to our free online introductory workshop called “The Inner Upgrade: Be the Person Your Life Is Waiting For.” It’s a perfect one-hour session to get a feel for Insight’s unique style and gain some transformative tools. Mark your calendars for Monday, 11 August, at 7pm NZ time.
This isn’t just about a seminar; it’s your chance to plug into a global community focused on growth. Whether you’re in Queenstown, Central Otago, or further afield, don’t miss this opportunity to explore a truly lifechanging experience. Come see what Insight Seminars can offer you!
COMMUNITY NOTES
At Patagonia, we believe in using business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. When we opened our first store in Aotearoa in January 2024 - Patagonia Tahuna Queenstown - we set out to create more than just a retail space. We envisioned a community hub. A place where people could gather, share knowledge, take action, and build deeper relationships with the environments that sustain us.
Our mission is simple: we’re in business to save our home planet. And that starts by protecting what’s right outside our doors. In Aotearoa, that means standing up for the mana of water. From alpine streams and deep lakes to coastal estuaries and ocean breaks, our salt-and freshwater ecosystems are under intense pressure. As anglers, surfers, skiers, and everyday lovers of wild places, we see sport as a bridge to environmental protection. Because when you spend time in a place, you’re more likely to fight for it.
That’s why the events we host at Patagonia Tāhuna are grounded in connection; to sport, to place, and to purpose. A few weeks ago, we held a Wash Party in store and across the road at Washatipu Laundromat, where we re-waterproof 62 shells ahead of winter, ate pizza and boogied to DJ JBOO. It was simple, useful, and full of good yarns - people learning how to care for their gear and keep it in use for another season (or ten).
This winter, we’re running a Fly Fishing Series designed to support local anglers and protect the rivers we rely on. Kicking off with Lake Fishing 101 hosted by Shelen Boyes, we’ll also be joined by legendary guide Jeff Forsee for a Saltwater Fly Night, plus two casting clinics with the Patagonia Fly Fishing team. These gatherings are about more than improving your cast - they’re about building a community that’s informed, connected, and ready to stand up for freshwater health.
by Patagonia Tahuna Queenstown
Because here’s the truth: the more time we spend outside, the more we notice when something’s off. Low flows. Silted beds. Vanishing fish. When you care, you act, and these events are about gaining tools and community to help preserve and restore te taiao.
Our events are free, low-key, and open to all. Each one is an invitation to learn, share, and get involved in protecting the natural world.
Visit us in store or head to patagonia.co.nz/pages/ patagonia-queenstown to see what’s on and sign up for our newsletter. See you soon!
Wakatipu High’s United Nations –
by Sue Fea
Now fostering the young brains of 62 different nationalities and ethnicities, Wakatipu High School has employed a Portuguese Language Support person, and this week held a special Brazilian evening for Brazilian students’ parents.
At the start of 2023 the school represented 43 ethnicities and that number just continues to grow, new students joining the school all the time, lately from new nationalities like Nepal and in Northern Africa.
Principal Oded Nathan says they’re doing their best to ensure students from around the world feel welcome in what’s becoming an “increasingly diverse school community”, reflective of the Wakatipu community at large.
“We’ve just started looking at some of the larger ethnic groups, starting with our Brazilian student population, and we’ve just employed a Portuguese Language Support person to help enable good communication between school and home, along with gaining a better understanding of how to support students and their families,” Nathan says. “We ran our first parent evening on Tuesday for Brazilian students and their parents.”
They’ll be addressing the next largest ethnic group – Filipino students, next. “We have a large Filipino community so we will look at having an evening with them soon,” Nathan says.
“As we’re becoming increasingly diverse, we’re also getting larger groups of some ethnicities so we’re wanting to further engage with the kids and their families to understand their experience here and then we can adapt accordingly,” he says. “Sometimes just helping them understand our expectations around attendance and homework can make a big difference.”
Not all students have grown up with such wonderful access to, and familiarity with the outdoors either. “We’ve noticed when it comes to school camps that some students new to New Zealand in the junior years are a bit more apprehensive about going to Greenstone Camp or Branches Camp. We’re looking at what the roadblocks are, to ensure they have the right gear and resources, and are confident around water,” Nathan says.
“These are things that we take for granted in New Zealand – being in the outdoors, but for some who’ve recently arrived in this country that may not be second nature.”
The school also currently has 27 international fee-paying foreign students, some from the likes of Italy and Germany, representing even more countries. The school’s head girl, New Zealand U18 Women’s Ice Hockey player Manuella Sanches Pedrosa, was also on hand, along with the new Brazilian Portuguese Language Support person, at Tuesday’s Brazilian evening, to help with translation. Nathan says it was an opportunity for parents and students to ask questions and for the school to “further foster those relationships”. “Our biggest challenge is to make sure people coming from overseas, who’ve made these significant shifts moving from a different country, feel like they belong,” he says. “We want to build that sense of belonging for them, which is easier said than done. Some travel quite significant distances,” Nathan says. “As our ethnic population grows and more students enrol; we can use the experiences of those that have come before them to try and ease the transition to Queenstown and Wakatipu High School.”
From left: Bloom Beduya, Grace Kunath, Trinity Jones, Jack Busst (Term 2 Excellence and Ad Alta Award Recipients)
From left: Trisha Cantos, Jodi Santos, Jesven Gacutan, Alliyah Viray, Rain Heart Morales, Charmaine Asaytuno - Students proudly representing the WHS uniform
From left: Nathaniel Patrick, Ankita Pilo, Jackson Nolan, Clive McPike, Isla McGlynn, Diego Maddison, Haru Kuroe (Term 2 Excellence and Ad Alta Award Recipients)
Gold Star heroes – 25 years of Fire Brigade Service
by Sue Fea
Two local Superheroes will be honoured on Saturday night (3 August) for their 25 years of tireless devotion to the Queenstown Fire Brigade, racing to call-outs at all hours, interrupting family camping trips and literally facing the heat on the frontline.
Volunteer Brigade Deputy Chief Bobby Lamont, who’s also employed as Fire and Emergency group manager for Otago, and Senior Station Officer Doug McKay, whose day job is chief of Queenstown Airport Fire Rescue, have both earned their 25-year gold stars.
Bobby first joined at 19, after coming to Queenstown to work at the skifields. “In summer I worked at Subway when it first opened and someone ran in and told me there was a big fire on Queenstown Hill, so I called 111 and got the brigade out,” he says. A possum had become caught in the power lines.
“Several days later I met a guy with a pager on a gold safety chain, so I asked him why he had that because he looked like a drug dealer,” Bobby laughs. “He invited me up to the station and I joined up.”
The biggest motivation was to give back to a community that had welcomed him so warmly after arriving from Tauranga. “That’s one of the biggest rewards.
“I’d aways played rugby until then and the brigade is like a rugby club, good teammates and a great community of support with a strong national support network too.”
Scottish Doug, who arrived in 1998 and had only planned to stay a while in Queenstown, heard the “fire hooter” and was intrigued when he saw people running up to the Queenstown Fire Station. By 2000 he’d joined up and had wonderful support from his employer at Mico Plumbing, always happy for him to rush off from work for fire callouts. “I think the record was 11 in one day, but that was unusual.”
The most memorable blazes Doug attended were to a substantial fire in the Night ’n Day store in Rees Street and the massive Closeburn fire which they fought all night – one of the officers on both jobs.
Both men say their families have been hugely supportive and patient, Bobby called away on the second day of a family camping holiday at Glendhu Bay in 2019 to help with the Tasman fires. He’s also been deployed to Canada,
Tasmania and other parts of NZ to assist. Bobby’s most memorable fire was also the Guy Fawkes night Closeburn blaze.
“Both Doug and I were living on site at the Queenstown station as part of the first responding crew back then in the early 2000s,” he says. “Closeburn was a pretty big fire. ‘Hannibal’ (helicopter pilot Sir Richard Hayes) flew overhead with a monsoon bucket and night vision goggles.”
Queenstown Brigade Chief Fire Officer Terry O’Connell says both men have surely done their time well and truly contributed to the cause, going beyond the call of duty.
They’ll be awarded their gold stars at the annual Queenstown and Frankton Volunteer Brigades’ joint annual awards dinner at the Rydges on Saturday night where the brigade is looking forward to celebrating their tremendous, outstanding contributions. Thirty-six other volunteers will have their service acknowledged and brigade trophies will be awarded.
Dire food needs – Food charities face double demand
by Sue Fea
Local food help agencies have been inundated with demand, churning out record numbers of food parcels this winter, amid an unprecedented need to feed everyone from migrants awaiting visas to local families.
Baskets of Blessings operations manager Lee Nicolson says deliveries of their food boxes and frozen meals have doubled this winter in what’s been a record year so far. “Our 2025 figures will be more than double what we delivered in 2022 – 100% growth,” Nicolson says. “This is bigger than we’ve ever done before.”
Their volunteers do anything from 45 to 85 deliveries a week to local households, thanks to generous donors.
She says there’s been a huge increase in migrant people stuck and unable to work while they wait for visa processing. “These are families, not just individuals, and Mum and Dad and the kids are sleeping at someone else’s house as they can’t work until their visas come through and have no money to even pay a bond on rental accommodation until then,” she says. “Our migrant communities are fantastic at looking after each other – Uruguayans looking after Uruguayans and Argentinians taking care of Argentinians, but visa delays are causing great hardship for many,” she says. “They’re here and absolutely willing and able to work, employers ready to hire them. It seems the only thing in the way is the complexity with regulations and visas.” She says these people have already showed great commitment and initiative to get themselves and their families halfway around the world. “We want to harness that enthusiasm, and initiative,” Nicolson says.
There are equally as many Kiwi families needing help, many impacted by severe illness. “Often the breadwinner runs out of holidays, sick leave and leave without pay. It’s very, very hard, mentally, physically and financially for them to get back on top.” Helping these people get back on their feet through challenging times is “what we love to do”, she says.
Salvation Army Queenstown Lieutenant Anna Natera says their phones have been running hot with people requiring food and financial support. She’s seen “a noticeable increase” in demand for food assistance, especially during winter. “Rising rent, power, and grocery costs are putting immense pressure on our families, and many are having to make difficult choices, sometimes going without food just to keep their homes warm,” she says.
KiwiHarvest generously provides food each Wednesday and up to 50 people receive food to help them get through the day. This is in addition to the Sallies’ food parcel programme, which offers financial mentoring, welfare advocacy and counselling support.
The Sallies Winter Appeal launched on Sunday (27 July), is calling for nonperishable food bank items to help those facing hardship and offer hope during a challenging season, she says. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure no one has to face winter alone.”
KiwiHarvest Queenstown, which collects surplus food and redistributes it to charity groups, has gone through more than 800kilos of fresh venison mince since early autumn, the meat donated by the Southern Lakes Deerstalkers Programme, branch manager Gary Hough says. “We don’t get any other meat as it’s such a high value item, so we’re very grateful for that. We get it processed.”
A tonne of food has also gone out to local charities through the ‘Souperheroes’ Campaign, with local schools getting right behind that initiative. Hough’s hoping to expand that to Wanaka next winter.
Charities urge locals to donate any staple grocery items like cans, dried goods, pasta and rice to the collection points at supermarkets around town or donate online.
Baskets of Blessing volunteers in action, keeping up with the unprecedented demand
From left, Queenstown Senior Station Officer Doug Mckay, former Chief Fire Officer Bob Robertson and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Bobby Lamont. at a community fire awareness day at Closeburn Station in 2012
Last call for nominations!
Know someone with vision, drive, and community spirit –or is that you? Stand for QLDC Mayor, Councillor, or Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board today. Nominations are open until midday 1 August. Learn more at www.qldc.govt.nz/elections
Share your thoughts on freedom camping
We’re taking feedback on a draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 which proposes a range of measures to manage responsible camping spaces to protect our places. These include prohibiting freedom camping on most roads in the district’s built-up urban areas, and allowing freedom camping with restrictions in 158 carparking spaces across 15 specified areas in the district. More at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz
Teen strength programme
QLDC Alpine Health & Fitness has a teen strength programme starting this week. Designed for 14–16-yearolds, Strength 101 runs 4.00-4.45pm Thursdays from 31 July. Cost just $42 for eight weeks. For more info drop by Queenstown Events Centre reception or contact 03 450 9005 / qec@qldc.govt.nz
Dog registrations are out now
Dog registrations have gone out to all pooch parents this month. You can pay online at www.qldc.govt.nz/do-it-online/make-a-payment
New to the district?
We’ve created a Newcomers Guide to help you settle into life here. To read the guide head to www.qldc.govt.nz/newcomers-guide
Dispose of hot ashes safely
Hot ashes can start fires in bins, trucks and landfills even days after. Always empty ashes into a metal bin, douse with water, and leave for five days before putting them in your red rubbish bin. More tips at www.qldc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling
Sign
up and Let’s Talk
Want to make sure your voice is heard on the important decisions that matter to you? Check out our dedicated web portal Let’s Talk. Register and start having your say at https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz
Free
emergency text alerts
Did you know about QLDC’s free community text alert service? Just enter your number and the location(s) you’re interested in, and we’ll flick you a text about things like reserve closures, dangerous driving conditions or other emergencies affecting your community. Sign up at www.qldc.govt.nz/text-alerts
www.qldc.govt.nz
HOSPOGUIDE
Tuesday Live music with Eby 6pm $15 Bao Buns
Live music with Sean Tinker 6pm $15 Rump Steak
Live music with John 4pm DJ Stubacca 7pm $15 Parmi
Quiz Night Bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment. To book contact info@lokalqt.co.nz or ring 03 442 5444
Latin Night with DJ Hector & $18 Cocktails
Open Decks
Live music with Danny Atkinson 5pm DJ R!SK 9pm $15 Burger & Fries Saturday Live music with TJ 5pm DJ Rinkha 8pm $15 Chef’s Special
Sunday Live music with TERE 4pm DJ Eoin 7pm $15 Spice Bags
off house beers, wines and spirits
Lenni Vibe
Lunch
Special: $28 BBQ meat platter, dine in or takeaway, Fri, Sat and Sun only 12pm to 5pm
Monday Live music with Johnny $15 Fried Rice Tuesday Double Points all night and DJ Mad from 9pm
Open Mic with Dave Arnold from 9pm
Quiz with Joe @ 7pm then Sean Tinker Live
Live Music from Dave Arnold then DJ Jahfire
DJ Swarms all night
Sesh with DJ Mad
Apres Monday with Je Marco
DJ Rinkha from 9pm
$27
Tuesday Limited Ice Bumper Cars from 1.30pm. Book now to reserve!
Wednesday Free to Watch Ice Hockey from 6.30pm-10pm 3 Games!
Thursday Bump & Skate all day long from 9.30am4.30pm Friday SKYCITY Stampede Semi Finals Game 1: Puck Drops 7pm Saturday SKYCITY Stampede Semi Finals Game 2: Puck Drops 7pm
Sunday Free to Watch Ice Hockey from 5.15pm-10pm 4 Games!
Monday Unlimited Ice Skating from 9.30am4.45pm only $25pp! $6 Beer handles 7 days a week
$10 Pints
$20 Pint & Poutine Thursday $20 Chicken Parmy & fries Friday/Saturday DJs in the beer garden 4pm till late
COCKTAIL HAPPY HOUR 9pm - midnight
DAILY 3 - 5PM $30 HAPPY HOUR FOOD COMBOS
BEERS 5 DRAFT BEERS TO CHOOSE FROM
Mon-Sat TAPROOM OPENS at 1pm Monday Searchlight x Tacos Jaguar, BEER & TACO Special from 4pm Mon-Sat TACOS JAGUAR food truck, Authentic Mexican food (excl. Tuesday) Wednesday Darts & Beers, Social Games Night 6pm - free entry
with Dave Bell 10pm $15 Burger Special O’Fish Al
Live Music with Dynamo 10pm $15 Burger Special Classic Cheese
3 - 5PM $10 BEERS $10 WINES $14 COCKTAILS
OPEN
6.30-9.45pm, Every Friday, Elle & Alex Music
NIGHT EVERYDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT ASIAN FUSION
QMTBC membership beer handles
Live Music with Mandates 10pm Sunday Live Music with Eby 8pm
Anything on TAP! Takeaway Riggers Available
Tuesday QUIZ NIGHTbar tab prizes - from 9pm $25 Special Beef Quesadilla
Live music from Danny Atkinson from 5 - 9pm Happy Hour from 4-6pm & 10-11pm Monday $25 Special Chicken Parmy Burger Tuesday POOL COMP FROM 9pm $200 CASH PRIZE FREE ENTRY Wednesday SILENT DISCO FROM 10pm 3 DJs | 3 CHANNELS FREE ENTRY Thursday LOCALS NIGHT Live Music 6pm - 9pm
Wednesday Silent Disco 3 DJs | 3 Channels | Free Entry $25 Special Cheese Steak Burger
Snow Industry night - local movies, burgers n beers, hip hop DJs $25 Special Birria Nachos
Party Bangers from 9pm $25 Special BBQ Ribs
Monday Live Music with TJ 9pm $15 Burger Special Streaky Cow
All Gas No Brakes from 9pm
Daily $20 Lunch Special Famous Sunday Roast $30 limited availability, booking essential! Quote ROASTS
Also serving Lamb Shanks, Blue Cod and other delicious southern classics
Everyday 8am - 9am Coffee Happy Hour 50% off when you byo keep cup
Tuesday to Saturday Happy Hour 3-5pm
1. Who ran through the streets naked crying Eureka?
2. Robin Williams dressed in drag for which 1993 film?
3. Which German word means lightning war, used in WW2?
4. Which city will host the 2032 Summer Olympics?
5. In what year was the COVID-19 pandemic officially declared over as a global health emergency by the WHO?
6. Which author’s work became the basis for the 2024 Netflix hit sci-fi series 3 Body Problem?
7. Which pop star headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in Las Vegas?
8. What is the name of Beyoncé’s 2024 country album that made Billboard history?
9. Who is the current UK Prime Minister as of mid-2025?
10. Which U.S. Supreme Court decision was overturned in 2022, affecting abortion rights?
11. Which country won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
12. Which country will co-host the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
13. Which country recently surpassed China as the most populous in the world?
14. What company became the world’s first to reach a $4 trillion market cap in 2025?
15. Who is the President of Ukraine as of 2025?
16. What does the acronym NATO stand for?
Thursday Purple Dog - NZ Tour - Indie Rock from Ōtepoti doors 9pm
Friday In OrbeatHouse & Techno from 8pm
Saturday AtmosphereUnderground & UKG from Wanaka from 9pm
Remarkables Station biodiversity project
Queenstown Airport and Remarkables Station National Trust Ltd have formed a partnership to restore native biodiversity at the base of the Remarkables / Kawarau mountain range.
Remarkables Station is a 1,222-hectare property nestled between the mountains and Lake Whakatipu. It is currently leased as a working deer, cattle, and sheep farm.
The station was owned by the Jardine family for almost a century until 2022, when Dick and Jillian Jardine gifted the property to the QEII National Trust to protect it in perpetuity. Ownership was transferred to Remarkables Station National Trust Ltd, a subsidiary of QEII.
Queenstown Airport and the Trust now plan to work together to eradicate a sycamore tree infestation, allowing native plants to regenerate across about 100 hectares of land over the coming decade. The overall vision is to restore the native forest ecosystem and create a sanctuary for biodiversity by clearing invasive weeds, removing livestock from the restoration area, and supporting sustainable native forest regeneration.
Nita Smith, of the Remarkables Stational National Trust, says the station will be developed as a model of integrated land use – incorporating pastoral farming, conservation, landscape protection, and community access and recreation.
“An important step in realising the long-term strategic vision for the land is biodiversity restoration. We wish to retire some paddocks from grazing and there is a substantial amount of weed control, pest management, and waterway protection work to undertake. We are thrilled Queenstown Airport is partnering with us to enable this vision.”
Queenstown Airport has committed to contribute $25,000 a year, as well as providing in-kind support for this project.
Queenstown Airport General Manager Sustainability and Corporate Affairs
Sara Irvine says the Remarkables are the first thing people see when they step off a plane.
“One of the nine core commitments in our Sustainability Strategy is to work with key partners to actively restore our native habitat for the benefit of future generations, so we were quick to seize the opportunity to contribute to this wonderful long-term project.”
New Gibbston festival
Just a week after the Gibbston concert announced its new home in Wānaka, there’s a new festival planned to take its slot.
The Valley will bring top-flight Kiwi bands and solo performers to The Church Cellar Door, Gibbston, on Saturday, 24 January, 2026, with the line up expected to be announced next month, and tickets on sale 1 September.
The venue has a consented capacity of 5000 people, roughly half the 11,000 that attended the final Summer Concert series at nearby Gibbston Valley Winery grounds earlier this year. The new festival is produced by the team from Ripe Events — best known for the much-loved Ripe – The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival.
Festival director Nathan White says the artist lineup is a monster, featuring a blend of beloved New Zealand icons, household names and rising stars from across NZ. The targeted demographic is people in their 40s, with food and wine a major part of the event.
“The Valley is about bringing together the best of what Gibbston has to offer — music, flavour, scenery and atmosphere,” White says. “This isn’t just another summer gig. It’s an elevated experience in one of the most iconic spots in the country.”
Wines will be poured by the team at Mount Edward, while Canyon Brewing will be on tap with a range of beers.
Visit www.thevalleyfest.nz for more information.
From left, Sara Irvine, Nita Smith, and Natalie Reeves
Arts+Culture
Ladies Night Comedy
by Jessica Allen
The Central Otago Whine Tour will return this Friday and Saturday, bringing talented female comedians to Rhyme X Reason and Sherwood. Awardwinning comedian Harriet Moir produced and is headlining the show, and while the lineup is full of extraordinary ladies, all are welcome to enjoy. If you attended in 2023 or 2024, you’ll know what to expect, although the show will be full of new material. If not, think smart, sharp, hilarious stand-up from some of the funniest women out of Dunedin and Central.
No stranger to local audiences, Moir regularly produces comedy all over the country with some of NZ’s biggest names. Most recently she took home Best Comedian for her newest solo show at the 2025 Dunedin Fringe Festival. Local favourite Maggie Rogers will MC the shows in Queenstown – she will be joined by Nicola Brown, Molly Force, Kelly Hocking and Caitlin Owens. Over the hill in Wānaka the show will be MCd by Molly Force and also feature Nicola Brown alongside Monty Montgomery, Jadwiga, and Demelza Daisy Ray.
“We have a great mix of returning and new comedians for these shows this year,” Moir says. “Audiences can expect the usual relatable yarns and chats about aging, parenting, being women and other super topical subjects. I know we all strive every year to have fresh material or at least mostly new stuff so you shouldn't feel put off if you've come before.”
With less comedy available for audiences in Queenstown and Wānaka than other regions, when shows are put on here the local comedians take the opportunity to perform at their best. Less time spent slogging away at open mic nights means more energy on stage for you. Moir says she loves bringing the show back each year as the audience here really appreciate the performances.
“Every single one of these shows has been a rip roaring success because the audience always shows up with open hearts and ready to laugh and enjoy a great night together. It is impossible not to have a good time when everyone shows up like this. Plus we are always so keen ourselves to get out of Dunedin and go on a roadie together. We have the best chats and car cries and it's a lovely adventure. And of course uplifting and entertaining people, making them laugh is the ultimate bucket filler.”
When it comes to who’s performing Moir does a stellar job at bringing the best talent to the stage. The shows are a great way to sample a range of different comedians – if someone isn’t quite your cup of tea, they’ll be off in ten minutes. Moir describes it as cheap and cheerful, and a great way to get a bit of light relief, which we could all use at the moment!
“I think just come along, bring your friends, bring your partner – men are very welcome and the comedy is not exclusive for them – treat yourself to a night of guaranteed entertainment.”
The Central Otago Whine Tour will be on Friday, 1 August, at Rhyme X Reason and Saturday, 2 August at Sherwood. Due to quickly selling out the last tour, there will be two shows – 6pm and 8pm and you can get tickets by scanning the QR code.
GOINGS ON ABOUT
EVENTS - MUSIC - ART
THEATRE - AT THE GALLERIES
Pasta Café
COMMUNITY
The Pasta Café are seeking to offer hospitality and a great free meal accompanied by live music, conversation and community. They welcome all people currently in the region to come along: thus, welcoming tourists, those here for a few days on the snow, ski workers, families and other local residents, those sleeping in their cars and others coming from their mansions. They seek in particular those struggling to connect in this busy town and those struggling to feed themselves and their family. In 2023 they served over 600 free meals over the four nights they were open, this year they expect to surpass that figure. Their whole team is made up of volunteers.
When: Friday, 1 and Friday, 8 August, 6pm – 8pm
Where: St Margaret’s Church, corner of Ross Street and McBride Street, Frankton
Beginners Chinese Course
This seven-week course is for beginners looking to discover how to read and write Chinese characters while exploring Chinese culture, customs, history and geography. You will learn to understand the basic principles of writing Chinese characters, the meaning behind the characters, have a clearer knowledge of pronunciation and writing, and discover Chinese culture, customs, history and geography. Head to the Southern REAP website for more information and to register.
Join Searchlight on the first Thursday of every month for the Queers & Beers social. They want to keep the Pride spirit alive all year round to create a stronger and closer community here in Queenstown so bring your friends, allies, partners, or even come on your own for few cold beers and some delicious Mexican food by Tacos Jaguar NZ. Queer Social is a judgment-free and all-inclusive safe space. Everyone is welcome to join the community, no matter what gender/non-gender, race, or religion you identify/present yourself as.
Peter Langlands is a well-known conservationist, researcher, writer and author of Foraging New Zealand. A keen birder and photographer, Peter has worked as a fisheries observer on commercial vessels and for DOC working on braided river bird data and setting up a national database on the Australasian Bittern. Peter has also done detailed banding and population studies on wading birds - wrybill and pied oystercatcher and has worked on recording godwit migration for Massey University.
When: Tuesday, 29 July, 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: Moonlight Theatre, top of the Gondola, 53 Brecon St, Queenstown
Central Otago Whine Tour - Ladies Comedy Night
Holy Girl Power have we got a show for you! After sell out tours in 2023 and 2024, the Central Otago Whine Tour - all-female comedy extravaganza is back and they could not be more excited! Headlined by Harriet Moir, hosted by Queenstown favourite Maggie Rogers and featuring some of Te Waipounamu’s funniest women; Nicola Brown, Kelly Hocking, Caitlin Owen and Molly Force, this show promises to be a night to remember. Oh, and just because the lineup is all women, doesn’t mean the audience has to be! R18. Tickets only $30, www.trybooking.com/nz/XTL
When: Saturday, 2 August, 6pm and 8pm shows
Where: Sherwood, 544 Frankton Road, Queenstown
Dash for Cash - 30th Anniversary Bruce Grant Youth Trust Race!
This year’s Dash for Cash isn’t just about speed, it’s about legacy. Coronet Peak are hosting a very special 30th Anniversary Bruce Grant Youth Trust NZ Ski Dash for Cash, celebrating the life and memory of one of New Zealand’s most fearless adventurers. Bruce Grant was more than just an Olympic skier -he was a mountaineer, an extreme adventurer, and a passionate soul whose love for the mountains ran deep. He represented NZ at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, starred in the iconic ski film The Leading Edge, and was a local legend at the Coronet Peak Dash for Cash for many years. Tragically, Bruce passed away in 1995 while descending from K2 in Pakistan. He was 31. Since then, the Bruce Grant Youth Trust has supported hundreds of young locals under 25, helping them chase dreams in sport, culture, and the arts. This year’s Dash is in his honour. Entry is $30 and there’s a $1,000 cash prize. All proceeds from the event go to the Bruce Grant Youth Trust, so come carve it up for a cause.
When: Sunday, 3 August, 2pm – 4pm
Where: Coronet Peak Ski Area, Queenstown
vegetable.machine.animal – Guest National Album Tour
Pōneke based interspecies trio vegetable.machine. animal is proud to be touring the new album GUEST. vegetable.machine.animal presents new music that blends electronic sound, the analogue percussion and drumming skills of Kieran Monaghan, and the biosignals of non-human band members such as plants, fungi, and lichen. It is a mixture of creativity, scientific exploration, and a hopeful expression of co-existence. GUEST was recorded while Monaghan was the 2024 Creative New Zealand/NZSM/Toi Pōneke Sonic Artist-inResidence. The album consists of 13 tracks, featuring collaborations with 15 adventurous musicians and sound makers, all invited to work with vegetable. machine.animal.
When: Wednesday, 6 August, 7pm – 7.45pm
Where: Te Atamira, 12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton
Queenstown’s electric future
Transpower, Aurora Energy and PowerNet are asking Queenstown residents for their views on the best way to provide a more resilient and secure electricity supply into the region for the long term.
The region’s growing population and increased focus on electrification (moving to appliances and cars that are powered by electricity rather than fossil fuels) means there’s more demand for electricity now, and there’ll be even more demand in the future.
For more than a year, the national grid operator and two electricity distribution businesses (lines companies) have been working with Queenstown Lakes District Council and other major energy users to forecast the region’s longterm future electricity needs and investigate ways to meet it.
Transpower’s Executive General Manager Grid Development Matt Webb said everyone has a shared ambition of ensuring Queenstown has electricity infrastructure that residents and visitors can rely on.
“While the transmission system has capacity and resilience to handle current demand to around 2030-2032, it’s vital to plan for what the region will need through to 2050 and beyond, taking into account new technologies and changes in electricity use.”
Aurora Energy Chief Executive Richard Fletcher said Queenstown has an ambitious vision to become the world’s most electrified destination. Transpower’s transmission lines are the backbone that will support this future by ensuring the region is supplied with sufficient electricity from the national grid.
“It’s important that electricity infrastructure planning for both Transpower’s transmission grid as well as Aurora Energy and PowerNet’s distribution networks considers any benefits that might come from the integration of locally generated electricity and battery storage. The engagement we’re doing now seeks feedback on this important area.”
PowerNet manages the local Lakeland Network. PowerNet’s Acting Chief Executive David Stevens said that the consultation was a good opportunity for the local community to really understand the challenges and to find the best option for the region as a whole.
“These are big decisions to make and they’ll have a real impact on future generations,” he said. “We encourage everyone to learn about the options and have their say.”
The consultation closes on 19 September.
More information about the consultation and the four options is available on www.energisingqueenstown.co.nz
Aurora Energy to double household solar export limits to 10 kW
Aurora Energy is one of the first electricity distribution businesses in Aotearoa New Zealand to increase the limit on how much solar power households can export back to the grid.
The change is a response to strong customer growth across the Otago network and follows the Government’s plans to expand the voltage range from +/- 6 percent to +/- 10 percent. Aurora Energy’s recent smart meter data trial, along with mandated inverter voltage control, gives confidence that the export limit can be raised ahead of the Government’s increase in voltage limits.
It means that from 1 August 2025, Aurora Energy will raise its limit to allow Single Phase Domestic Connections to export up to 10 kW of electricity. The current limit on the network is 5 kW.
Chief Executive Richard Fletcher says the change represents the lines company’s move towards a smart and future-ready network that encourages greater adoption of renewable energy while still maintaining grid safety and stability.
Increasing the export limit can make the value proposition for investing in solar and battery technology more appealing to homeowners, by enabling excess domestically generated power to be exported into the network, thereby generating income.
“This change is one of the examples of Aurora Energy leading the way in enabling smarter, more sustainable energy solutions,” Fletcher says.
“By increasing solar export limits, we’re not just responding to customer demand, but showing how electricity distribution businesses can support the transition to renewable energy.”
More information about the technical requirements are available on the Aurora Energy website www.auroraenergy.co.nz/get-connected/solar-anddistributed-energy
by Sue Fea
My Life story
BOB HOWITT
One of New Zealand’s rugby writing greats
One of New Zealand’s most renowned rugby writers throughout his successful 66-year career, Arrowtown’s Bob Howitt has notched the names of many of New Zealand’s most famous All Blacks into his belt, also writing the biographies of many.
Retired from Auckland to Arrowtown with exsoutherner wife Jenny in 2016, bowls have been Bob’s mainstay lately, but even then, he can’t get away from that wonderful rugby reputation as editor of the country’s most successful rugby publication Rugby News for 25 years.
“It’s still a huge thrill when so many good old codgers at bowls say, ‘Bob, I can tell you, I couldn’t wait for the Rugby News to come out on a Friday night. I can’t thank you enough’.”
Rugby flows strong in the Howitt veins, Bob’s father glued to Winston McCarthy’s radio commentaries. “He’d take me to Petone Rec Ground to watch the games,” Bob says. “It’s in my system.”
“I knew I’d never match T.P. so I gave my readers a story every day, not all scoops.”
Thinking he’d become a horticulturalist, Bob’s uncle Jim Howitt put paid to that, seeing the young Petone Tech First XV captain’s enthusiasm, and offering Bob a crack in Wellington’s Evening Post sports department. “I started as a proofreader then copyholder. It was all typeset then.” Bob’s job – to match errors in the original and run downstairs to sports editor Fred Boshier. Within six months, now 17, he’d been invited to train as a cadet journalist. “Saturday night’s sports edition was out on the streets by 7pm. We went to the movies at 8.”
At his first game at Fraser Park, Bob got absolutely drenched then put his three pennies in the telephone box filing his story ad lib to the waiting copytakers.
“Once Gabriel David, who became sports editor had written that Colin Meads was responsible for ‘many clean takes’ in the lineout. But the copytaker wrote ‘many cream cakes…’ which got printed,” Bob grins.
By 21 Bob was rugby writer at the Auckland Star – his rival, NZ’s most renowned rugby writer Sir Terry ‘T.P.’ McLean, who confessed years later that Bob sure gave him a run for his money.
“I knew I’d never match T.P. so I gave my readers a story every day, not all scoops.”
There almost 10 years, Bob only left because he got cut from a promised South African tour with the All Blacks in 1970. “I thought I was in with a big chance, but the sports editor called me in and said because of the politics they were sending a political writer,” Bob says. “I was stunned and speechless.”
It prompted the move of his career, becoming founding editor of Rugby News, still being published today.
“It took off. The second year (1971) the British Lions toured NZ – a massive event. We ended up auditing a net circulation of 31,000 copies a week,” Bob says. “People like Peter Bush contributed photos and sub-editor Phil Gifford did the cartoon strip.”
Bob’s biggest scoop came when he “took a punt” after chatting with All Black coach Ivan Vodanovich who’d said he might be going to a Motueka rugby game. “That meant he was looking at only one person, Nelson Bays running fullback Trevor Morris.”
However, Bob reckons he went “a bit far” once quoting 1970s All Black coach Fred Allen on information he’d been trusted with. “I saw Fred at Fraser Park in Timaru. He left the selectors and came over, a big hand landing on my shoulder: ‘I give every journalist one chance and you’ve just blown yours’. I learned my most important lesson,” Bob says. They became great friends, Fred years later saying, ‘You know what I want to say, you write it!’
By the 1980s and 90s rugby was live on TV so Bob left, quickly snapped up as editor of NZ Rugby Monthly.
He’s written 21 rugby books, mostly biographies of Kiwi greats, including the highly successful, NZ Rugby Greats, staying in the homes of NZ’s best post-war All Blacks during the interview phase. Legends like Sid Going, Don Clarke, Earle Kirton, Brian Lochore, Fergie McCormick, Colin Meads, Waka Nathan and Wilson Whineray starred in that book – a huge hit selling almost 35,000 copies.
While working for HarperCollins in 2011 Bob took another punt, convincing the doubtful publishers to put out a special publication on an anticipated All Black World Cup win. “Sir Graham Henry was coach and always won. We won 8 –7,” Bob grins, a stressful game to say the least. “I wrote it progressively, 70% printed before the game. We’d published by Thursday – a big success.”
Retired in Takapuna, Bob managed the interclub team that he ended up filling in and playing for, the team skippered by Danny O’Connor. Takapuna won the NZ title, and again two years later, Bob by now a team member.
Bob now loves bowling all over Central Otago, a local club selector.
He still can’t keep out of a good rugby game though, now happily freelancing as a newspaper rugby writer for Central Otago weekly interclub competition games.
Bob wrote 21 books, pictured here, left, with Sir Graham Henry after the launch of X Factor in 1999
Bowler Bob, left, with fellow journalist Lindsay Knight, famous ex-All Black Bob Scott and Otago bowler Jim Johnson at a rugby bowls tournament in Mount Maunganui
Bob chatting with All Black manager Ernie Todd at Penzance on the 1972-73 tour of the UK and France
Bob, second from left, with the NZ rugby media in Australia in 1980, from left, Don Cameron, (Bob), John Houson, Tim Donoghue and Keith Quinn
Bob with wife Jenny
PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AVAILABLE
45 seat Bus to smaller shuttle
Driver only or with my own 18 Seat New Bus
Local, years of experience, 4-16 pax
City to town, Ski fields, Mt Cook, Tekapo, Milford Sound Day tours or transfers - same day or overnights
Call 021 568 146 - available anytime
XS STORAGE
Secure self storage units – various sizes available Phone: 0800 297 786 | www.xsstorage.co.nz
For Sale
BLACK LEXUS RX450H V6 AWD 2012 automatic. Cream leather seats. Luxury imported car (2yrs) in great condition. Super reliable hatchback SUV style. All the power of a V6 with the self-charging battery for fab fuel savings! $20,500 ono. Ph 0272440007
WHAKATIPU BEEKEEPERS SUPPORTING LOCAL BEEKEEPERS with sharing knowledge, mentoring and maintaining best practice. Most importantly a group of likeminded individuals who love bees. Meeting regularly, for more info or to join us whakatipubeekeepers@gmail.com
NEW TO THE AREA OR got more time on your hands & looking to give back to your community? Altrusa International Qtwn is looking for volunteers just like you to join our women’s charitable & service organisation supporting our local community. Want to know more? Email: president.queenstown@altrusa.org.nz or message us on Facebook.com/AltrusaQueenstown
WHAKATIPU DRIVE MY LIFE ARE seeking volunteers to become mentor buddies to help our vulnerable people achieve their drivers licence. If you are interested or have any questions contact Louise Ward louise@reap.co.nz
SPCA OP SHOP – 51 GORGE RD. Open 7 days a week 9am- 5pm. Pre-loved goods and clothing at great prices. Help support the ongoing work done by the SPCA. Accepting donations now. Call into store now to enquire about Volunteering. Your old goods, or your time, could help save a life.
WSCA – ROOMS FOR HIRE - Spacious, sunny rooms are available for hire to Queenstown Community Groups. The rooms hold up to 90 people, with seated dining for 40. Located on the 1st floor of Malaghan House, 10 Memorial Street, Queenstown with lift access. There are kitchen facilities, toilets, Wi-Fi, media equipment for projection onto large screen plus large screen TV. Contact us on 03 4429214 or info@wsca.org.nz for more details.
Come along for a relaxed and fun evening with Remarkable Theatre! Everyone’s welcome - whether you’re a long-time member or just curious to see what we’re about. We’d love to see you there!
Kylee De Suza Account Manager 021 044 2968 | kylee@qmg.co.nz
Patricia W. Becker Graphic Designer
Kanika Sethi Finance
Paul Taylor Editor/Journalist
Sue Fea Journalist
Jessica Allen Journalist/ Content coordinator
QUEENSTOWN DHARMA CENTRE, 12 LAKE ST TUE (29 Jul) @ 6.30pm, ‘Nurturing Peace’ with Grant Rix SUN (2 Aug) @ 10am, ‘Cultivating Awareness Practice’ followed by ‘Social Sunday’
All are welcome.
Donations for the teacher/centre are gratefully accepted. See www.dharmacentre.org.nz / FB
Join the Whizzy E-Bike Team!
Ph: 03 409 2800
enquiries@qmg.co.nz
jobfix.co.nz
Are you passionate about E-Bikes, customer service, and our stunning trails?
Whizzy E-Bikes is looking for full-time and part-time crew to start with us in September 2025. What you’ll be doing…
• Picking up guests and getting them setup for amazing E-Bike adventures.
• Delivering top quality E-Bikes with outstanding service.
• Ensuring smooth operations and fantastic customer experiences.
• Maintaining and upkeeping our E-Bike fleet.
We’re offering competitive wages, a fun working environment and the chance to be part of Queenstown’s amazing E-Bike Tourism rise!
If you’re ready for an exciting role with Whizzy E-Bikes, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now and let’s get to work!
Send your CV and a quick intro to - hello@whizzy.co.nz
NZ’s #1 Original Zipline company is looking for adventurous people to join our team.
Part time HR Coordinator
Are you people orientated and detail focused? We are looking for someone that can be across all aspects of HR from recruitment to payroll and le management as well helping to continue a fun company culture by organising sta events! This is an o ce based part time position.
“The Caretaker”
Can you use a chainsaw, maintain the garden, know what a ball cock is, delay the pruning to jump into hosting guests and cooking on the BBQ.
Over The Top – the helicopter company are looking for “The Caretaker”
Ideal for a local active handyman, retired farmer, practical Kiwi, wanting some variety in a typical day’s work.
• Reliable, Adaptable and Practical with a touch of meticulous.
• Keen for a long-term position.
• Drivers licence with Class 1, 2, D & P or the ability to get these.
• New Zealand Firearms licence.
• Happy to fly to work by helicopter on some days.
This is a fun job with a mixture of hospitality, meeting people and being unsupervised on rural property tasks.
A sense of ownership and pride is encouraged and rewarded. This is either full time or flexible to mutually suit.
Please send an expression of interest to projects@flynz.co.nz with an outline about you. Let’s chat.
Are
•
•
•
• Enthusiastic and motivated with great interpersonal skills?
• Excited to share our eco journey? We are looking for:
Someone
*Offer valid to 12.08.25 or while stocks last. Discountoffersapplytoselectedbedsandbeddingonly,pricesasmarked.OffersexcludeEverydayDreamprices,runouts,clearancestock(unless otherwise stated) and not
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