Running a regional airline is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a high-cost, highrisk business with very little margin for error. While Air New Zealand happily scoops up the profitable main routes, smaller communities like Wānaka are left reliant on independent operators with the courage and financial stamina to fill the gaps.
For the past five years, Sounds Air has done just that, running a reliable and well-supported thrice-daily service between Wānaka and Christchurch. But come the end of September, that lifeline will end. The airline has announced it’s pulling the plug, citing massive cost increases. Ten good local jobs will also be lost. The whole community however loses far more.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t due to lack of demand. The service was well-used by businesspeople, families, and more crucially, those travelling for urgent health appointments in Christchurch. Yes, fares weren’t cheap. But neither is driving 90 minutes to Queenstown and dealing with the increasingly stretched infrastructure there. Ten minutes to Wānaka Airport, and you’re airborne and free parking.
The timing couldn’t be worse. The Wānaka Airport community engagement process is just wrapping up, and this announcement throws a spotlight on the consequences for any other potential operator. Once an airline leaves, it almost never returns. Losing this service is a massive setback for the Upper Clutha - and one Queenstown should care about. Why? Because the fallout will also impact Queenstown.
More Wānaka travellers now need to cross the Crown Range, adding pressure to already congested Lake Hayes and Frankton roads. The Crown Range itself is a narrow, winding alpine road - beautiful, yes, but increasingly busy and not without risk. It’s a growing piece of infrastructure under strain, with a rising number of accidents and limited capacity to safely absorb more commuter traffic. Queenstown Airport - already creaking under the weight of everincreasing demand - becomes the only option. That means more vehicles, more carbon emissions, and more frustration for Queenstown locals.
Health is another hidden casualty. Wānaka has limited health services, with unmet needs and long-standing barriers to access. For many, the Sounds Air route was a bridge to essential care. Its loss is not just inconvenient - it’s heartbreaking.
This is more than just the end of a flight service. It’s a stark reminder that without serious investment in regional infrastructure - including realistic options for air connectivity - small communities will continue to be left behind. And when that happens, the pressure shifts elsewhere. Queenstown, that pressure is now on you. The region needs a serious conversation about shared infrastructure, equitable access, and how we support resilient, connected communities. Because when Wānaka loses, the ripple effects don’t stop at the Crown Range. David Gibbs, former GM of Lakes Weekly
Happy Birthday big red! Iconic Queenstown adventure tourism business Shotover Jet celebrated its 60th anniversary over the weekend. Its jet boats have carried more than 4.6 million passengers since its first commercial ride in 1965. Events are planned throughout August. Read more on lwb.co.nz.
Dog poison warning
by Paul Taylor
At least eight dogs were rushed to vets in Queenstown over the weekend after eating rabbit poison Pindone.
Remarkable Vets senior veterinarian Alec Kemp says there’s been a huge spike in the number of dogs coming into the surgery after contact with the pesticide.
Green dyed baits containing Pindone are dropped across reserves and walking tracks around Queenstown Lakes by contractors, as Queenstown Lakes District Council attempts to control the rampant rabbit population.
“In the past 24 hours, I’ve seen eight animals that had either eaten Pindone or were suffering the effects of poisoning,” Kemp says on Sunday morning.
“If we catch them in the first couple of hours, we can make them vomit. It’s just a case of getting the Pindone out of their system. If it’s been more than a few hours, we can give them Vitamin K [which acts as an antidote], and sometimes if they’re really bad, they need a blood transfusion or a more intensive work up, but fortunately, touch wood, these ones haven’t this weekend.”
Pindone is an anti-coagulant rodenticide, which can also pose serious risks to humans and other domestic pets, such as cats.
Symptoms of Pindone toxicity can include pale gums, lethargy, coughing, difficulty breathing, and bleeding issues such as nose bleeds or blood in the urine. They may not appear for a few days after ingestion.
Kemp says the cases have been coming in from across Queenstown.
“We’ve had them from all over the place; Cardrona, Gibbston, Jack’s Point. It’s that time of year when there are a lot of drops because they’re trying to catch the rabbits before we head into spring. While there’s not a lot of food around, the rabbits will eat the bait easily.”
Contractors have been dropping bait three times a week, by motorbike and helicopter, since 14 July, at sites across Queenstown Lakes.
In Queenstown itself, the areas are Twin Trails – from Zoological Gardens to bank below Hawthorne Drive, Queenstown Event Centre Hay Paddock, and Morven Ferry Reserve. Further afield, drops have been made at Albert Town Old Oxidation Ponds (Cameron Creek), Cardrona River Mouth Reserve, Little Mount Iron Reserve, Peninsula Bay Reserve – Bremner Bay to Waimana Place, and Clutha Outlet Reserve.
Signage should be in place until there is no risk to the public or dogs. Dogs should be kept on leash in the meantime, or away from the areas, and owners should be vigilant for symptoms of Pindone poisoning.
QLDC has a baiting control web page, where there’s also a map of the affected areas.
•Do not touch the bait
•Watch children at all times
•Do not eat animals from these areas or within 2km of it
•Do not allow dogs access to animal carcasses or bait
•Keep dogs on leash and under control at all times
• Signage will be removed when there is no risk to the public or dogs
Green dyed baits containing Pindone. Photo: Wellington Council
File photo. Not one of the dogs poisoned.
Conservation shake-up slammed
by Paul Taylor
Government plans to charge overseas tourists to visit Milford Sound and other popular spots are “double-dipping” says Queenstown Milford User Group chair James Stokes.
On Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced plans to charge $20-$40 per person for high-volume sites.
Milford Sound, Aoraki Mount Cook, Cathedral Cove / Te Whanganui-a-Hei, and Tongariro Crossing are the first four places where the charges will be introduced, as overseas tourists represent 80% of the visitors.
But Stokes says: “So what was the IVL [International Visitor Levy] increase for then?
“It’s double-dipping to be honest. We’re already in a competitive market for overseas visitors, so why are we trying to make it more and more expensive. It’s not helpful.
“We’ve had the IVL increase beyond what the industry suggested. That’s
supposed to fund conservation and tourism infrastructure, and I don’t believe that’s all been allocated yet.”
The IVL, which is charged at the border, increased from $35 to $100 in October 2024.
Stokes is boss of flight-seeing company Glenorchy Air, one of the companies that takes tens of thousands of tourists a year on day trips from Queenstown to Milford Sound and Mt Cook, along with RealNZ and others. He says the companies will need at least 12-18 months to prepare for the additional charges.
The charges will raise up to $62 million per year in revenue, which will be directly re-invested into the same areas.
Luxon, speaking at the National Party conference, also announced an overhaul of the Conservation Act, to “unleash a fresh wave of concessions – like tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, in locations where that makes sense”.
“Many New Zealanders already run outstanding businesses on the conservation estate – from guided walks and ski fields, to filming documentaries, grazing sheep and cattle, or hosting concerts and building cell phone towers,” he says.
“But to do any of that, you need a concession – and the concessions regime is totally broken, often taking years to obtain or renew and leaving businesses in a cycle of bureaucratic limbo.”
Luxon namechecked the Routeburn as one area where tourism is “being held up because the trail crosses artificial boundaries, with different rules and different limits”.
The plans have been slammed by Forest & Bird.
Chief executive Nicola Toki says they “shift the focus from protection to exploitation, dismantling the very purpose of our national parks and conservation lands”.
She points out that the consultation document proposes making around five million hectares of public conservation land available for exchange or disposal if deemed ‘surplus’ or to ‘support other government priorities’.
“We should not be making it easier to sell off conservation land for commercial gain,” she says.
Who’s in the frame?
It’s a bloke-dominated run for mayor this time around. When nominations closed on Friday, six men had put themselves forward to be the next mayor of Queenstown Lakes. Incumbent Glyn Lewers will face off against Al Angus, John Glover, Nik Kiddle, Darren Rewi, and Daniel Shand.
Lewers has served one term as mayor, having previously been a councillor after winning a coin-toss due to a dead heat with AJ Mason, demonstrating the power of every single vote. He then garnered 4,382 votes to take the chains in 2022.
Kiddle ran against incumbent Jim Boult back in 2019, gaining 3,337 votes. Angus has stood for mayor four times before, his no-nonsense approach failing to win over voters, while Glover has sought election as a councillor three times, also unsuccessfully. Shand ran last time around, garnering just 201 votes.
Rewi, one of Central Otago’s most senior kaumātua, is the newcomer, but also a well known local.
There are 16 roles available on Queenstown Lakes District Council, including the mayoral seat, 11 councillor positions and four Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board seats.
All will be contested. There are 21 candidates for the councillor seats and six for the community board. Only Esther Whitehead from the current crop of councillors is not seeking re-election.
“We have a great mix of experienced councillors seeking re-election this term and fresh faces bringing new perspectives,” council CEO Mike Theelen says. “That level of interest and engagement is good news for our community and local democracy.”
They have their work cut out - new Government figures show QLDC has by far the highest debt to revenue ratio of any council in New Zealand, standing at 271.9%.
There’s a full list of candidates on lwb.co.nz and the Queenstown App. Voting papers will be delivered in September, with voting open until midday on Saturday, 11 October.
Tourists on a rainy day in Milford Sound, among the 750,000 people who visit each year on average
Mayoral candidates (top row, from left) Glyn Lewers, John Glover, Nik Kiddle, (bottom row) Darren Rewi, Al Angus and Daniel Shand
CLASS – Central Lakes Arts Support Scheme
HireKING is your friendly and helpful one-stop shop for all your construction site and event needs! Give us a call today to find out how we can help.
A guide and the application form is available online to assist with the funding process - scan the QRcode.
Funding rounds close on the 15th of each
Funding is now available for community–based arts groups, with the aim of the scheme is to increase participation in the arts at a local level, and increase the range and diversity of arts available to communities. For any enquiries
MorganShepherd Principal
ChristineEdgley Principal
CRIMELINE
by Sue Fea
Aussie tourist attacked for turning wrong way into Arrowtown one-way
A 56-year-old Queenstown man allegedly punched a 50-year-old Australian tourist for accidentally turning the wrong way down one-way Buckingham Street in Arrowtown just after 7.45pm last Friday (25 July), kicking in his rental vehicle and hurling abuse.
Constable Amanda Shute says members of the public had to intervene after the rental vehicle made a U-turn turning the wrong way down the street prompting the alleged assault. The man allegedly threw several punches at one of the occupants of the vehicle hitting them in their head and eye, Shute says.
Just prior to that he allegedly kicked the vehicle causing minor damage to the passenger door, before yelling abuse at the occupants of the rental vehicle, she says. The man ran off when members of the public intervened and was located shortly after by Police and arrested.
The Queenstown man was charged with assault, behaving threateningly and wilful damage and is due to reappear in the Queenstown District Court on 22 September.
Frankton car fire treated as arson
Police are investigating an arson after a Mitsubishi Diamante was found on fire in Glenda Drive just after 11.30pm on Friday night (25 July). The vehicle was parked outside Remarkables Tools and Safety on the roadside, but somebody had largely put the fire out by the time Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade volunteers arrived on the scene, Station Officer Karl Argyle says. It appeared as though someone had used water from a nearby tap but there was nobody around when they arrived, Argyle says. The fire crew hosed out any warm spots with plenty of water to ensure the fire was fully out.
Police are now treating the fire, which left the car badly damaged, as suspicious and enquiries into the arson are continuing.
Fire and Emergency Otago Lakes Group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says the fire is being treated as suspicious and FENZ is working with the Police on the matter.
Alleged Aussie drink driver driving wrong way
A 37-year-old Australian driver allegedly blew 814mcgs, well over the legal 250mcg limit, after being observed driving the wrong way down one-way Earl Street in downtown Queenstown where he was stopped just after midnight on Sunday, 27 July.
The man was suspended from driving for 28 days due to the high reading and was charged and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 15 August.
Police have charged five people for driving with excess breath alcohol levels throughout the area since Friday, 25 July, three of those in the 250 to 400mcg range.
“We continue to see a steady flow of people drink driving and placing themselves and other motorists at risk,” Otago Lakes Centre Area Road Policing Manager Steve Watt says. “We will continue to take an ‘any time anywhere’ approach and if you’re drink driving you will get caught.”
A patient with serious injuries was transported by St John Ambulance to Lakes District Hospital before being airlifted to Dunedin Hospital by the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter after an accident at Frankton on Monday morning (28 July). A St John spokesperson says the accident was believed to have involved a truck and a person and occurred just after 7.40am.
Global self improvement Insight Seminars come to Queenstown
Globally recognised not for profit Insight Seminars, which has been empowering people into self-enlightenment and development for almost 50 years, is about to make its New Zealand debut with a seminar in Queenstown at Labour Weekend.
Insight Seminars New Zealand director, Cromwell-based Peruvian Nancy Roxburgh says her first seminar back in Peru in 2012 completely changed her life, so much so that she’s secured the rights to bring the seminars to NZ. The only costs to people are those associated with running the events, and while highly-trained facilitators who travel from all over the world are paid, Roxburgh says volunteers – usually graduates who’ve gained so much, are always pitching in to help.
“The whole experience of Insight was truly life changing for me,” Roxburgh says. After volunteering extensively and learning so much about herself –creating the foundation for the life she truly wanted - Roxburgh travelled overseas, ending up in NZ. She married a Kiwi and now has two small children and a goal to “foster a vibrant Insight community right here”.
Founded in the US in 1978 by John-Roger and Russell Bishop, created to give people accessible tools for a successful life, Roxburgh says their original philosophy hasn’t changed – “to assist us in transforming ourselves into loving, so that the greater transformation of the planet to loving will take place”. In 45 years, Insight has turned out more than 1.5m graduates, reaching into 46 countries.
“At the time of my first seminar, I had just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I knew deep down that something profound needed to change in my life. Insight was that catalyst.”
The three and a half day seminars in the programme delves into five core pillars designed to foster authentic personal effectiveness and inner harmony. These include Commitment to Self and Personal Effectiveness. “These were key for me,” Roxburgh says. “They also help people take accountability and responsibility, and let go of guilt, taking the power back in their lives.”
Success Through Receiving Feedback is another focus of the programme. “You learn how to receive constructive criticism without taking offence or becoming defensive,” she says. “It’s hard to hear what we don’t want to hear but feedback can be used as a gift – a pathway to growth and development,” she says.
Years later she’s still using the tools she was taught all that time ago.
“I’m an engineer by profession and Insight helped me to become more efficient and a better communicator in my profession.”
Further Information and to register see:
The Balance of Give and Take – how to ask for what you want without guilt and how to know when to say ‘no’ if you’re a constant giver, is another key focus. “Some people just give and give and never receive,” Roxburgh says. “Insight personally also helped me tremendously with my relationships, clarified my career path, gave me a strong sense of purpose, and even transformed complex family affairs, both emotionally and financially.”
She says it was the “energy” of that first seminar she attended that piqued her curiosity to learn more. “They were such a group of chirpy, positive people.
“I was doing multi-level marketing at the time, and a friend invited me after seeing a good friend totally unrecognisable. “It was the best investment I have ever made in myself.
“It invites you to live through past experiences, the deeper you go the bigger the impact, but it’s totally up to the participants how far they want to go with that. I found my life purpose in this,” she says. Roxburgh says she couldn’t look at herself in the mirror prior to completing Insight. Now she enjoys wonderful, fulfilling relationships after starting with her own.
Facilitators who take the three and a half day seminars are trained for anything from three to 10 years.
The inaugural NZ Insight one in Queenstown from 24 – 27 October, at Te Atamira will be led by executive coach Peter Felsmann, who’s coached Microsoft executives. He’s also running a free online workshop via Zoom on 11 August.
Lily Cubrilo, an executive coach from Australia, will also be leading sessions at the Queenstown seminar.
Insight Seminars ran events in Australia until 2015 and Roxburgh says she already has 15 Australians, including seminar graduates, coming to the Queenstown event in October to help or attend. “Graduates from years gone by often send their adult children along as it’s had such an impact on them.”
The seminars are open to anyone 18 and over and Roxburgh says the content is “non-invasive” and based on psychology and neuroscience. “It’s not motivational style or based on any religion,” she says.
“I wanted to bring it here, as not only do I live here but it’s made such a profound change in my life and built a great community of people with understanding and the same core values all around me.”
Both charities and companies need capital. How to achieve both profit and public good at the same time, especially in these economically straitened times, is the subject of our Catalyst Kōrero, later this month, Thursday, 28 August.
Steven Moe, Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading lawyer in impact investing, works on both sides of the equation. He helps investors achieve public good from their business, and charities to structure their offerings to attract investors.
“We need to challenge the old paradigms of thinking about doing good and making profits, stuck as they are in Milton Friedman’s doctrine of shareholder primacy,” Steven says. “That binary conception no longer stands. There are structures that mean both corporates and fundraisers can achieve their goals.”
Steven has formally advised hundreds of groups ranging from charities to companies and entrepreneurs. He hosts the Institute of Directors’ Board Matters governance podcast and his own Seeds podcast, on which he has interviewed 450 inspiring entrepreneurs and individuals.
As chair of Community Finance, NZ’s largest private impact investing fund, he has helped raise more than $265 million for social housing in the last four years, through the government-backed Community Housing Funding Agency.
Steven will outline different legal structure options to use for advancing purpose while being profitable, and lead a practical workshop considering different scenarios. Bring your questions.
Thursday28August 6pm-7:30pm
Thursday, August 28, 6pm - 7.30pm, at The Liger Academy, Five Mile.
Registration required to ensure your seat. Please donate online or bring cash for your koha, which will be given to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.
NB: The same day this Catalyst Kōrero was confirmed (May 15), the government unveiled a new $190 million social investment fund designed to eventually take over contracts secured by government agencies for social services from nongovernment agencies, currently worth around $7 billion a year.
WHEN WHERE HOW
Thursday28August 6pm-7:30pm
Lakes Weekly gives community organisations in Queenstown Lakes the chance to address our readers directly though our Community Notes page. If you’d like to take part, email Jess at info@qmg.co.nz
Frizzell and Sydney colour outside the lines
Celebrated painter Dick Frizzell is coming to Queenstown to discuss his new memoir, Hastings, at the launch of the Queenstown Writers Festival 2025 programme.
Frizzell will be in the hot seat for an hour-long discussion with Central Otago’ landscape artist Sir Grahame Sydney, at Te Atamira, on Sunday, 31 August.
Sir Grahame says he can’t remember when he, a “little faraway regionalist painter from the insignificant south”, first met the “trendy, contemporary, up and out there famous Aucklander”.
“He was much older than me, charismatic and confident and probably as rich as Croesus. And he had fabulous hair. All the things I wasn’t,” Sir Grahame (five years younger) quips.
“Getting to know him has been a pleasure. I have immense admiration for his many talents. He is best known as an artist but he is a wonderful writer, and a demon ukulele player. The only thing he can’t do is sing.”
Frizzell is known for his kiwiana paintings, including the Four Square Man and Mickey to Tiki, as well as landscapes and still life but he is also a gifted story teller.
His newly released childhood memoir Hastings, is his fifth book. It includes 30 short stories each conjuring a moment of his Hawke’s Bay childhood surrounded by a clan of Frizzells. It is a boy’s own adventure and a love letter to a small regional town and Frizzell’s parents.
Sir Grahame, who has famously painted Central Otago’s landscapes over several decades and was knighted in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to art, is also the author of several books, and says Frizzell’s colourful personality shines through his writing.
Festival chair Tanya Surrey says she’s delighted the titans of Aotearoa art had agreed to be part of the launch, ahead of the festival in October.
“This year we are bringing 25 of New Zealand’s top writers to Queenstown who will share the stage during more than 30 events including writers’ conversations, panels, and workshops.
“Some writers are household names, while others are exciting up-andcoming talents. I promise there will be something for everyone during an incredible weekend celebrating the magic of storytelling.”
The programme launch - featuring Frizzell and Sydney - will take place at Te Atamira, Frankton, at 4pm on Sunday, August 31, while the festival runs from 31 October to 2 November, is also based at Te Atamira.
Dick Frizzell
Sir Grahame Sydney
Classy lady likes to have fun, cooking, dancing travel. Seeks male GSOH. Take A Chance On Me.
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Bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment. To book contact info@lokalqt.co.nz or ring 03 442 5444
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Wednesday
Tuesday QUIZ NIGHT - bar tab prizes - from 9pm $25 Special Beef Quesadilla
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CROWNE PLAZA, GROUND FLOOR, 93 BEACH STREET, QT
1. Which HBO show about a post-apocalyptic world starring Pedro Pascal was renewed for a second season in 2025?
2. New Zealand all rounder was ruled out of the July 2025 cricket tour to Zimbabwe due to a groin injury?
3. Which environmental activist released The Climate Book in 2023?
4. What is the capital city of Morocco?
5. What empire was ruled by Montezuma II when the Spanish arrived?
6. What iconic item of clothing did Coco Chanel popularise in the 1920s?
7. Who played the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)?
8. Which planet in our solar system has the shortest day?
9. What Netflix series is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana?
10. What is the main gas found in the air we breathe?
11. What 1990s TV series featured characters named Mulder and Scully?
12. What part of the brain is primarily responsible for balance and coordination?
13. Who holds the men’s record for most Grand Slam singles titles in tennis as of 2025?
14. Which country has won the most Rugby World Cups?
15. What pop star released the album Future Nostalgia?
16. Which language has the most native speakers worldwide?
17. Who created the animated TV series The Simpsons?
18. In which sport would you perform a “kip”?
QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. The Last of Us | 2. Glenn Phillips | 3. Greta Thunberg | 4. Rabat | 5.
Arts+Culture
An evening with the Poet Laureate
by Jessica Allen
Arrowtown Creative Arts Society (ACAS) and Queenstown Writers Festival are bringing New Zealand’s Poet Laureate Chris Tse to town. He’ll be performing this Friday alongside local poets, and will also host a Masterclass on Saturday.
Tse is a New Zealand poet, short story writer and editor. His works explore questions of identity, including his Chinese heritage and queer identity. Tse was named New Zealand’s 13th Poet Laureate (2022-2025).
Born and raised in Lower Hutt, he studied film and English literature at Victoria University. He is the author of three poetry collections published by Auckland University Press: How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes, HE’S SO MASC, and Super Model Minority. He and Emma Barnes also edited Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa, the first major anthology of queer writing from Aotearoa.
His performance will include readings from his previous collections, exploring identity, plus new poems that focus on how we capture and express joy, particularly during times of crisis and uncertainty.
“Initially I was reluctant to write about my identity and experiences,” Tse says.
“My earliest work was about my great-grandfather immigrating to Aotearoa, and my first full-length book revisited the murder of Joe Jum Yung in 1905. Eventually, identity became a strong focus of my poetry, as seen in HE’S SO MASC, which was about coming out and the intersection of my Chinese and queer identities. I explored this further in Super Model Minority.
“Joy has been present in a lot of my work – for example, in references to my favourite singers and films – but lately I’ve taken a greater interest in writing about how we create and sustain joy, particularly when the world’s on fire.”
Tse believes that poetry and the arts are extremely important to the youth, too. He personally loved all forms of art from a young age and wanted to try his hand at everything. Being involved allowed him to find his first communities and peer groups – it’s been instrumental in how he’s explored his identities. He’s seen how young people use arts to not only express themselves, their fears and their anxieties, but also the joy they take from it.
“I also see how important it is for them to see themselves represented in art to show that they’re not alone and to see that being an artist can be a career pathway.”
In the Masterclass, Tse will lead participants in reading and discussing several poems to explore a range of voices from contemporary New Zealand poetry. The class will also be given prompts for writing exercises.
“We’ll be doing some close reading of a few poems as a group and use the discussion to explore the techniques that poets use and to think more broadly about what’s happening in contemporary poetry. I want it to be a safe and relaxed place for people to try their hand at writing some poems –no one will be forced to share what they’ve written.”
Tse explains that he often hears from people that they don’t ‘get’ poetry, or they have a very narrow view of what poetry looks or sounds like. He would encourage anyone to attend an open mic night or poetry reading to expose themselves to different types of poetry, giving them a broader sense of what’s out there.
“They can also dip into journals and anthologies like Best New Zealand Poems, Starling or Bad Apple to see how varied contemporary poetry is. Sometimes ‘getting’ a poem isn’t the way to approach it – sometimes just enjoying the sounds and rhythms or the imagery it evokes can be more than enough.
"There’s also a lot of collaboration between poets and other artists – for example, poets accompanied by musicians and dancers, or films based on poems. These collaborations and performances are changing people’s expectations of how poetry can be presented and enjoyed.”
Tse’s time as Poet Laureate is coming to an end with voting closing for the next one at the end of July.
“The next Poet Laureate will be announced on National Poetry Day [22 August] and there will be heaps of other events taking place around the country – a great opportunity to discover a new favourite poet or poem! There’s a calendar of events on the National Poetry Day website,” Tse says. Chris Tse will perform at Sherwood at 7.30pm on Friday, 8 August, and will host a Masterclass at Te Atamira on Saturday, 9 August. More information and tickets can be found at acas.nz/event-list
health MENTAL
Winter is not a productivity hack – it’s an invitation to slow down
by Katherine Froggatt
As the coldest month in New Zealand settles in, it’s tempting to push through winter like it’s just another season to “get things done”. But what if winter is actually nature’s gentle nudge to pause?
In a world that praises hustle and productivity, winter offers a powerful counterpoint: longer nights, shorter days, and a biological cue to slow down, rest, and restore. This isn’t weakness - it’s wisdom. Winter invites us into a state of seasonal alignment - and our nervous systems are begging us to accept the invitation.
After working with hundreds of women recovering from burnout, one pattern is crystal clear: when we override nature’s rhythm, our bodies eventually push back. Fatigue, irritability, sleep issues, emotional eating - these are all signs that our internal battery is drained. The solution isn’t more coffee or “motivation”. It’s to embrace what your body is already asking for: downtime, warmth, nourishment, and stillness.
Here are three small shifts I personally use to support my own winter wellbeing:
1. An extended evening routine
Instead of squeezing in one more episode or mindless scrolling, I treat my evenings like a wind-down ritual. A warm shower, herbal tea, soft lighting, and even ve minutes of breathwork or journaling helps signal to my body that it’s time to rest. The nervous system thrives on predictability - this simple routine is like a lullaby for your brain.
2. Gentle movement over intensity
When energy is low, our instinct may be to “snap out of it” with high-intensity
exercise. But in winter, our bodies are in conservation mode. I switch to slower movement like yoga, stretching, or even walking meditations. These options gently support circulation and stress release - without burning through what little energy we may have left.
3.
Comforting, slow-cooked meals
There’s something soul-nourishing about a warm, hearty meal bubbling away in the background. Winter is the perfect time for nutrient-rich slow cooking - think bone broth, root vegetables, warming spices, and healthy fats that keep you full and satis ed. These meals aren’t just comfortingthey support your mood, blood sugar, and digestion too.
Want to try one of my favourite winter recipes?
Slow-Cooked Beef Short Rib with Soy Sauce & Black Pepper, served with Parsnip Mash (plus a bonus journaling prompt to help you savour more and stress less this season). To download, scan the QRcode.
If slowing down feels hard and you’re stuck in a cycle of procrastination or exhaustion, this is your sign.
Let’s make this the winter you stop pushing through and start healing. Book a free Clarity Call with me and let’s get you feeling more energised, motivated, and back in control - just in time for spring.
No more waiting. No more burnout. Just the support you’ve been needing.
by Sue Fea
My Life story
KIM LOGAN
A mountain man with mana
He may have climbed dozens of mountains around the world, done hundreds of climbs at home, and been part of some of this country’s most notorious search and rescue operations, but you won’t find this humble, Kiwi guy boasting about them.
Still guiding mountaineering expeditions overseas, Kim Logan turns 73 this year and works full-time as Mt Pisa regional foreman for Foley Wines. Next year he’s guiding an expedition to Mount Kailash in Tibet and last year took clients around the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trail deep in remote Nepal. Everest no longer appeals, Kim’s first climb there on the Hornbein Couloir on the north face ending in tragedy when two members fell.
He’s climbed Mount Cook via 15 routes and completed 27 descents, Cook’s south face with Bruce Grant among his most memorable climbs, along with a climb up the south face of Sabre Peak with Kiwi legend Bill Denz. It was while working in Nelson that Kim was first introduced to climbing by a Japanese climber who took him up low grade Mount Sealy. It became a lifelong passion. “I got back down and thought I could walk on water, I was amazing,” he laughs. “I remember a mountain guide asking me what sort of knot I had in my harness back then. I said,’ My fishing knot’. He asked, ‘How many fish did you lose?”
Climbing also opened doors as a location scout and manager for Hollywood blockbusters and movies here and overseas. His skill landed him on the sets and guiding stars from Vertical Limit and Without a Paddle to Eye of the Storm in Rarotonga.
It maybe wasn’t the career path Kim’s dad had envisaged, sending his boys to Kings Prep School around seven or eight. “Dad believed in order to succeed we had to fit into a Pakeha world so needed an English Anglican education.” Kim escaped the full Kings immersion, ending up at Patea District High School, moving a lot as his dad leased hotels.
Born in Hastings (Ngāti Kahungunu) Kim’s family had its own notoriety, his grandmother Miriama
Logan, a trailblazer for the Māori Women’s Welfare League, and his dad a commander in the 28th Māori Battalion.
Kim worked from 3am until 8am at the local freezing works before school and was off to Australia to join his brother at 16, family tragedy forcing his return home where, sadly, it struck again.
“Dad believed in order to succeed we had to fit into a Pakeha world so needed an English Anglican education.”
He worked as purchasing officer for Fisher Windows and General Electric and by the early 80s was at Mount Cook working for Search and Rescue. “Six of us were on our way in an Iroquois to rescue climbers Mark Inglis and Phil Doole, trapped in a crevasse near the summit of Mount Cook when the Iroquois crashed,” Kim recalls. “We were bloody lucky. The rotors hit the side of the mountain, and we landed upside down by a 500m drop off Emperor Shelf into the Hooker Glacier.” Sure they’d go over, he quickly released his seatbelt, landing on his head before throwing myself out the window. They stayed in a snow cave overnight until choppers could get in the following morning, Inglis and Doole surviving 15 days.
Moving to Queenstown he worked as a Forest Service shooter before the amalgamation into DOC.
Kim, Bruce Grant and Allan Smith, helicopter pilot Dennis Egerton and Dr Tom Milliken were awarded a Royal Humane Society bravery award for rescuing a German tourist at night in snow and sleet from an icy bluff ledge off the Harris Saddle.
Kim and Bruce became great friends. “He wanted to learn to climb so I took him up Earnslaw to a
frozen waterfall with his crampons, ice axe and hammer. He said, ‘No rope?!’ I knew he was an Olympic skier, so I said, ‘You’re Bruce Grant. No rope.”
That backfired when Bruce was teaching Kim to parapente off Ben Lomond. “He laid the chute out and I asked, ‘Where’s your seat?’ He replied, ‘There’s only one. It’s for you’, Kim grins. He said, ‘This chord is to go left, this chord to go right and pull them both before you land. Now start running and don’t stop’. That’s all I got.”
Kim says Bruce became a technically better climber than him, while Kim had the experience. “He was one of the best, so much power and strength.”
They went on a K2 expedition together in 1995. Tragically, Bruce was one of seven to lose their lives on 13 August after summiting (30 years ago next week) – the beginning of a difficult time of personal loss for Kim.
A ray of sunshine broke through when he met second wife Glennys back in Queenstown, moving to Cromwell where Kim studied horticulture.
He’s also studied gemmology, working in the black pearl industry in French Polynesia, and sought gems in Northern Pakistan. “You see all sorts of weird stones in the remote villages.”
As for Te Reo: “I had that beaten out of me at a very English school, but I’m proud to be Māori and see both Māori and Pakeha embracing unity.”
Kim’s book – ‘Kim – A Journey Between Worlds’ will be launched at the Queenstown Writers Festival (31 October – 2 November).
Kim guiding in Nepal in 2014
Kim on an Antarctic expedition in 2013
Kim, on yet another adventure in 1996
Kim and Glennys in their beloved Central Otago last year
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, 8 August, 6pm – 8pm
Where: St Margaret’s Church, corner of Ross Street and McBride Street, Frankton
Queers & Beers
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.
The largest snow season pride celebration in the southern hemisphere, held annually in Queenstown, New Zealand. Founded in 2003, Winter Pride has grown to become a vibrant and inclusive event that attracts participants from around the world!
When: Friday, 15 August – Sunday, 24 August Where: Various locations around Queenstown
ARTS
Julia Eichardt - Book launch with Lauren Roche
Join author Lauren Roche and editor Nicola McCloy to celebrate this captivating new historical novel. Julia Eichardt shines a light on the remarkable women who shaped early Queenstown, New Zealand. Written by Lauren Roche, the book tells the inspiring tale of Julia Shanahan Eichardt and the vibrant community around Lake Wakatipu during the gold rush era. Julia’s story mirrors the growth of Queenstown itself, from a rugged settlement to a thriving town. Julia arrived in New Zealand in 1863 and worked at The Queens Arms hotel, originally William Rees’ woolshed, before gold fever transformed the region. Head to Eventfinda to secure tickets.
When: Sunday, 17 August, 3pm – 5pm Where: The Grille by Eichardt’s, 9 Marine Parade, Queenstown
If you would like your show, event, exhibition or meeting promoted in Goings On drop us a line at info@qmg.co.nz with the details
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
Dog Derby at Coronet Peak
The Dog Derby is back for its 51st year. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase your dog handling skills and make some new friends. Traverse the mountain in either the Country Dog division, Town Dog division, or get the kids involved in the Kids Division. Anything is paw-sible.
When: Saturday, 9 August, 10am – 3pm
Where: Coronet Peak Ski Area, Queenstown
Whisky Waltz: A Ceilidh Affair
Be whisked away to the heart of Scotland, without ever leaving Arthurs Point. Arrive from 4pm where you can settle in with a specialty whisky, warm up by the fire, and claim your seat before the festivities begin. As the sun dips, the Brew Hall will come alive with the sounds of traditional Scottish music, the rhythm of ceilidh dancing, and our spirited ode to the haggis. There’s a Scottish-inspired menu, and plenty of dancing to be had.
When: Saturday, 9 August, 4pm – 10pm
Where: Cargo Collective Brew Hall, 172 Arthurs Point Road, Queenstown
Family Fly Tying with Shelen Boyes
Bring the kids! A fly tying day for all the family. Whether you’ve tied flies since you were a child or your young ones are interested in fly fishing, join us at the Fly Bar to in Patagonia Tāhuna store to learn how to tie flies with Queenstown-based female guide, Shelen Boyes. Walk-ins welcome.
When: Sunday, 10 August, noon – 6pm
Where: Patagonia, 49 Beach Street, Queenstown
Illusionist Anthony Street
Step into a world of wonder with Illusionist Anthony Street, in a thrilling magic show crafted to captivate audiences of all ages. Anthony, renowned as the creator and star of the world-famous Celtic Illusion, brings his unique blend of breathtaking illusions, mind-bending magic, and boundless charisma to the stage. Prepare to be amazed as he conjures impossible feats before your eyes, blending traditional magic with modern spectacle, creating an experience that’s both heart-pounding and heartwarming.
When: Sunday, 10 August, 7pm – 8.45pm
Where: Queenstown Memorial Centre, 1 Memorial Street, Queenstown
Snow Machine
More than 7,000 people will descend on Queenstown for the epic Snow Machine in September - but festival organisers want locals to join the week-long party too, and are offering discounts for Queenstown residents to the festival, plus throwing a huge downtown street takeover party on Rees Street. Claptone, Amyl and the Sniffers, Netsky, Mallrat, Luude, and Cyril, are among two dozen international and NZ acts set to perform. Local Discount Code: LOCAL25 - head to the booking website and pop that in. snow-machine.com/nz
When: Tuesday, 9 - Sunday, 14 September
Where: Various locations around Queenstown
5
Ph: 03 409 2800
enquiries@qmg.co.nz jobfix.co.nz
HOUSE ELECTRICAL
new builds | renovations | maintenance
rob harvey rob@houseelectrical.co.nz 021 115 5637 www.houseelectrical.co.nz
EASY ADMIN
INVITING LOCAL BUSINESS, we do: PAYROLL, XERO/MYOB, GST, CASHFLOW, AR&AP, INVOICING. Office Management & Consultancy. hello@easyadmin.co.nz | 0210 823 7381
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
XS STORAGE
Secure self storage units – various sizes available Phone: 0800 297 786 | www.xsstorage.co.nz
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
QUEENSTOWN DHARMA CENTRE, 12 LAKE ST
TUE (5 Aug) @ 6.30pm, ‘Nurturing Peace’ with Grant Rix WED (6 Aug) @ 6.30pm, ‘Sadhana Practice’ with Grant Rix SUN (10 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
FOR SALE: A VERY EFFECTIVE METHOD OF ADVERTISING
Line Ads in the Lakes Weekly Bulletin are a very effective method of advertising. Take the first step to your successful business advertising by going to www.lwb.co.nz and place your ad online.
Pricing starts from $9.50
86157 9 432 35 9 421867
2743861 9 5 51683427 9 782 9 65314 4 9 3217586
1256 9 3748 9 47158623
638742 9 51
- 11 August 2025
VACANCIES
Payroll & Accounts Administrator
BDO Southern Lakes & Central Otago has an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for client service. We’re on the lookout for someone with previous client payroll experience who thrives on getting things right. In this role, you'll be responsible for end-to-end payroll processing for our valued clients, while also delivering exceptional administrative support to our dynamic team.
What we’re looking for:
• Proven experience in client payroll
• Knowledge of NZ Holidays Act & Employment legislation
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• A proactive, hardworking attitude
• Bookkeeping/GST return experience (preferred but not essential) Why BDO?
We’re part of a globally trusted network with a strong local presence across Queenstown, Alexandra, Cromwell, and Wanaka. At BDO, you’ll be supported by inspiring leaders, ongoing development opportunities, and a team that values collaboration and excellence.
Ready to make your mark with us? Send your cover letter and resume to slc.hr@bdo.co.nz
Ph: 03 409 2800 enquiries@qmg.co.nz jobfix.co.nz
Are you...
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail?
• Passionate about the environment and selling a sustainable
• A team player?
• Enthusiastic and motivated with great interpersonal skills?
• Excited to share our eco journey?
We are looking for:
Guest Services Agents
Someone
Electrician Required
Finance Manager
Loaded is a software hub for hospitality businesses with a growing international customer base, built right here in Queenstown. We started as a 13-site hospitality group and created Loaded to solve our own operational challenges. Now, we help thousands of venues across NZ and Australia do the same.
We're looking for an experienced Finance Manager to take sole charge of everything finance at Loaded. From board reporting and financial forecasting through to payables, receivables, and payroll, you’ll have the opportunity to shape and streamline the entire function.
You’ll be excited by the idea of owning the numbers, improving systems across the business, and supporting strategic decisions in a fastmoving SaaS business. You’ll work closely with the CEO and be a key contributor as we scale across Australasia.
This is a 25 hour per week role, based in Queenstown.
To find
We’d
Ph: 03 409 2800
enquiries@qmg.co.nz jobfix.co.nz
Cookright Relief Operator
• Opportunity to join our friendly team
• Physical strength required, some heavy lifting
• Shift days are Monday – Friday with 5am starts
• $60,000 salary PA
• A can do attitude and good communication is required
• Must have full NZ drivers licence and clean criminal history.
Must be legally able to work in NZ. References required.
Call Scott on (027) 246 3886 or email queenstown@cookright.co.nz
REQUIRED NOW!!!!!!
Skilled and Unskilled Labourers
Traffic Controllers
Looking for casual, temporary or long term work??
Queenstown Personnel and Labour Hire are looking for labourers for a variety of jobs around Queenstown with an immediate start.
Contact Sharleen - 027 778 7377 or email sharleen@qtplabour.co.nz
Full-Time Evening Duty Manager
On the Spot Fernhill Grocery
• Duty Manager training provided
• Shifts are evenings & weekends
• Great working environment
• Best customers in Queenstown!
Must have a good work ethic and strong customer focus.
Email CV to fernhillstore@gmail.com or drop one in store.
“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.
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.
Smiths Craft Beer House requires a DUTY MANAGER.
The successful candidate must have: A VALID NZ LCQ certificate/the ability to obtain one, a VALID WORK VISA good for at least 6 months and be prepared to start within a week or two.
Please pop up in person talk to Fraser or email your CV to Chris@smithscraftbeer.co.nz
Join the Whizzy E-Bike Team!
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
