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LOCALLY OWNED SINCE FOREVER BULLETIN

It’s make your mind up time

So, according to the grapevine, there are still a few of you out there who haven’t decided if you’re heading over to LUMA this weekend. That’s fair enough, it’s not everyone’s bag but it’s always been a pretty good time. Having said that, we thought it might be worth giving you a quick rundown on what’s occurring over the first five days of Winter.

So firstly, it’s a long weekend so there’s no better reason to get together with some friendly faces and head off in search of some WTF moments. LUMA has always been about switching things up. Changing things that worked last time, just because we can. Fixing stuff worth fixing and finding new portals into different sensory experiences. This year is no different, in fact, we’re pushing on to another place entirely.

As you’re reading this the players are gathering, the structures are growing and the performers are honing their show… and what is that show?

Well, there’s five nights of darkness filled up with a soundscape curated and managed by Mike Hodgson from Pitch Black who’s looking after the audio for the whole of the Gardens all weekend. There’s a lot of sound this year. A lot.

Emma Vickers is bringing performers from all over to keep the place humming. The team from Creature are bringing in some sea monsters and a mapping experience which Illuminates a new monolithic landmark in the Lost Forest.

The Liquid Salon will offer a chance to see four or five live performances every night in a uniquely designed, multi-stage audiotorium.

Angus Muir and his team have taken over the whole lower headland and turned it into “Harmonious Resonance” for those who are prepared to go out ‘to the end’…

The LUMA team have been working on this version for nearly two years now. We’ve got mermaids, DJs, violinists, aerialists. Food trucks, augmented reality and candyfloss. There’s lovely people pouring drinks and making brews, there’s the Dishrupt crew keeping us on the path to zero waste, more than 200 artists and over 150 volunteers helping out over the weekend to give you the best experience possible. Plus it’s not every day you get a chance to have your fortune told by the Children of Zoltar. I see your future… there’s a tall dark, handsome… oh no,wait, I don’t wanna spoil it.

Hopefully we’ll see you there, or if not you can just scroll your feed and watch everyone else who made it. Just saying.

Duncan Forsyth and the LUMA crew

FEATUREINSIDE LAKESBUSINESS

National Party leader Chris Luxon and deputy Nicola Willis were in town on Friday and outlined their party’s position on a bed tax and the housing crisis at a Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce breakfast event. From left, Joseph Mooney MP with Chamber chair Angela Spackman, Chris Luxon, Chamber CEO Sharon Fifield, and Nicola Willis. See story on page 2.

National’s focus on housing

By Paul Taylor

Luxon and Willis were hosted in the resort by Queenstown MP Joseph Mooney, as campaigning for the October General Election ramps up. After speaking to party faithful at the Events Centre on Thursday afternoon, they had a post-Budget session with the Chamber at the Holiday Inn Remarkables Park.

Luxon began with a quip, assuring Chamber members he was the “real Chris Luxon... not an AI generated one”, referencing National’s controversial use of AI generated images in its campaign adverts.

He then delivered a 20-minute speech outlining his party’s plans to fix New Zealand’s economy and get the country “back on track”, highlighting the impact of inflation and high interest rates, and the Government’s “spending addiction”, along with plans to boost education and policing.

But it was in the Q&A session that followed where Chamber members were able to pin them down on some of the key issues for Queenstown.

District Councillor Mat Wong, who owns iFly, asked National’s opinion on the proposed visitor levy for Queenstown-Lakes, known as a bed tax, which was on the cards before Covid-19, under a Labour Government.

Luxon deferred to finance spokesperson Willis, who said historically the party has been “pretty nervous” about a bed tax, because they were worried it would drive tourists away.

“So, I think the case for the tax needs to be establish really carefully, that you’re not going to kill the golden goose when you do it. That’s always been our concern.

“At the heart of your question is ‘what are the additional funding and financing tools a fast-growing area like Queenstown, can use?’ because you’re not going to get enough revenue from rates to build the infrastructure you need, to support the growth you need.

“We agree that’s a problem. So, what we have been working very hard on, is changes to the Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act... which was designed to give local government a few more tools for creating revenue. It’s clunky, very hard to use, very few councils have used it at all. We want to tidy it up and make it easy to use.”

That would enable councils to make property developers, for example, pay special rates to fund infrastructure.

“Around the world funding and financing schemes that allow those who have benefited from growth, to contribute more to the growth, work. And that’s what we want to see.”

Willis says National wants to say to Queenstown “grow, grow, grow... and here are some options on how you’re going to pay for it.”

National is due to announce its infrastructure and housing policy in the next few weeks.

On housing specifically, Luxon agreed with a Chamber member that Queenstown had become “the poster child” for the housing crisis.

“Let’s be clear, we’ve got a country the size of Great Britain and Japan, and houses are more expensive. That’s just insane,” he says. “We’re a country of five million people, in that land space.

“We’ve not done a good job of consenting and opening up green fields.” Luxon says National wants to reimagine the consenting process, to reward councils for delivering on growth, while also reinstating interest deductibility for rental landlords, and restoring the Brightline test to two years.

The plan is also to get capital into the hands of community housing providers, such as Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, and make it much easier for overseas investors to fund build-to-rent properties.

Willis says National housing spokesperson Chris Bishop is working on a Build-to-Rent housing Bill.

“It delivers a fast-track through the Overseas Investment [Act] regime,” Willis says. “You get an exemption on your build-to-rent housing in New Zealand, you can do it.

“I think that’s really applicable for Queenstown because there’s big money that wants to invest. It’s a great asset for them and will provide long-term housing security for people.”

Willis says QLCHT has been doing “incredible work... on the smell of an oily rag” and National wants to empower them, by diverting capital from Kainga Ora [the Government’s state house builder] and legislating to enable inclusionary zoning.

“I’m really sympathetic to [QLCHT] argument that there should be some inclusionary zoning. Ultimately it is an issue for councils, as Chris [Luxon] said, we believe in localism, but we don’t think the law should prevent you having inclusionary zoning if that’s what you want to have.”

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Queenstown’s hospo stars shine again

By Paul Taylor

A host of Queenstown hospo people and businesses have been announced as finalists for the Hospitality New Zealand Awards For Excellence 2023.

Bert Haines, of Future Hospitality Group (FHG), and Blair Impey, Republic Hospitality Group, are both on the five-man shortlist for Hospitality Leader of the Year.

FHG’s Liam Cabourn is tipped as a Future Leader of the Year, while Juliearna Kavanagh, of Hop on Hop Off Wine Tours, makes the Supplier of the Year final.

In the hotel sector, both QT Queenstown and Ramada Remarkables will battle it out for the prestigious Hotel of the Year award.

Kamana Lakehouse has been shortlisted as Best Luxury Accommodation and Garden Court Suites & Apartments is the finals of Best Motel Over 25 Rooms.

Botswana Butchery will represent the town as the only local establishment in the finals for Best Restaurant, but Kamana Lakehouse has made the Best Fine Dining final, along with The Bunker Restaurant and Bar.

Kamana Lake House is also up for the Best Restaurant in an Accommodation Venue, so could take down three awards on the night.

Last year’s Best Bar winner Little Blackwood, owned and operated by FHG, is again in the finals, while Yonder is on the shortlist as Best Late-Night Venue/Live Entertainment Venue, and The Locker Room Sports Bar will contest the Best Sports Bar final.

Hosted by Hospitality New Zealand, and sponsored by Lion New Zealand, the awards are the longest running, biggest and most prestigious national hospitality awards for excellence, recognising the best talent and finest the hospitality and accommodation industries have to offer.

Winners will be announced at a gala dinner at the Pullman Hotel, Auckland, on 28 June – the final night Hospitality New Zealand Conference.

There are 20 categories, from which the overall Supreme winner will be chosen. In 2022, Cargo Gantley’s Pub & Cafe, Arthurs Point, was the

Supreme winner, after winning the Best New / Redeveloped Hospitality gong.

Future Hospitality Group also won the 2022 final of Excellence in People and Culture.

There is also the People’s Choice Award, which is open to finalists across every category and voted on by the public.

Hospitality NZ Chief Executive Julie White says she is delighted by the number of entries.

“These awards are the pinnacle of our industry so we were expecting a lot of interest, and we have not been disappointed.

“We want to recognise and reward members who create the highest possible standards and experiences for both their guests and their team.

“I didn’t envy the judges’ job to whittle the number of entries down to these finalists, but they’ve done a great job in sorting out the best of the best.

“Every year it’s a shame we have to single out anyone because operator and worker across the hospitality and accommodation sectors deserves an award for the perseverance they’ve shown.

“It’s inspiring to see hospitality businesses still striving to be the best and to meet customers’ needs after what they’ve been through.”

The Industry’s Leader of the Year People’s Award categories, will be announced at the Hospitality Social Event on the evening of June 27.

Future Hospitality Group director Bert Hains accepts the Excellence in People and Culture award at last year’s awards

Workforce squeeze eases for Queenstown Lakes

The latest quarterly labour market snapshot report for Queenstown Lakes shows a sharp lift in the availability of workers for the district.

As well as labour market growth of 2,500 additional jobs compared to one year ago, hospitality employment is up to 85% of pre-Covid levels compared to 67% this time last year.

Report author and economist Benje Patterson said this is primarily due to a rise in workforce participation by women and youth, where employers have tapped into previously under-utilised parts of the labour market.

“But not all is roses. Signs are mounting of a profit squeeze for businesses, which has led to wages not rising as fast as they were. Retaining staff as we move towards the winter season will now be the big challenge, particularly as it is getting harder to just write bigger pay cheques and housing availability remains tight.

“Increasingly, good employers are finding other ways to encourage people to stay by fostering a great workplace environment.”

Patterson’s latest report highlighted available data reflecting employee sentiment in the district. It found that local worker sentiment is slightly better than the national average for tourism and hospitality workers.

On the other hand, there is some evidence from Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Quality of Life survey that sentiment has deteriorated amongst local workers over recent years.

Patterson called for an increased focus on evidence to monitor employee sentiment and its drivers for Queenstown Lakes, consistent with the government and tourism industry partnership’s commitment to a nationwide monitoring and evaluation framework in its ‘Better Work Action Plan.’

QLDC Economic Development Manager Peter Harris supports this approach.

“It’s heartening to see more vacancies being filled,” Harris says. “However, encouraging those workers to choose to stay in the district is key. Alongside the practicalities of work, how people feel about their job and the team they work in plays an important part in whether staff stay or move on.”

Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Sharon Fifield agreed that investment in employee satisfaction is vital in today’s competitive environment.

“Funding towards implementation of the ‘Better Work Action Plan’ for tourism, announced in Budget 2023, includes an accreditation scheme to encourage employer best practice,” Fifield says.

“MahiQL, a district-wide workforce strategy and planning initiative led by the Chamber, would be the perfect partner for government to design, test and pilot the nationwide approach.

“We are building up to a busy winter season and worker accommodation still remains a challenge. It’s promising to see so many businesses working to find solutions to ease pressures for their staff, as ultimately having a healthy, secure and affordable place to live is essential for attracting and retaining staff.”

The report is available on QLDC’s website.

Huge budget blowout on arterial road

By Paul Taylor

Queenstown’s mini-bypass will cost ratepayers another $20 million, bringing the grand total close to an eye-watering $109m. Councillors last month approved the budget increase of $20.61m for the Queenstown Arterial Stage 1 project, which connects Frankton Road to Gorge Road, via Melbourne Street and Henry St.

Back in October, QLDC budgeted for its contribution to be around $38 million, with a total of $88.23m. But the latest $20.61m increase means QLDC will be paying roughly half the overall costs, an estimated net cost of almost $59m.

QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen says councillors voted to support the move at a public excluded session (allowing free and frank discussion of commercially sensitive information) in late April.

Theelen says such increases are “not uncommon for a project of this scale, duration and scope”.

And it could get worse, he says, as challenges of managing such projects since the pandemic remain.

“Ongoing cost increases, labour shortages, shipping delays and capacity issues at a local, national and global level are well-publicised,” Theelen says. “Whilst these have been factored into the latest forecast and we have contingencies in place, it’s impossible to rule out further increases given the state of the global economy and sometimes unforeseen conditions below street level.”

The project is being delivered by Kā Huanui a Tāhuna (the Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance) comprising QLDC, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, Beca, Downer, Fulton Hogan and WSP.

“The Alliance is actively looking at ways to mitigate cost increases as it works to deliver this significant infrastructure project that will ultimately remove traffic from Stanley Street to enable more public transport and more open spaces in the town centre for people to enjoy.”

The Kā Huanui a Tāhuna team is upgrading underground services along the Stage 1 route and constructing large retaining walls to create the new link between Melbourne and Henry Streets.

Gorge Road, which has been closed between Stanley and Weaver Street since October last year, is on track to re-open temporarily for the busy ski season on 16 June.

It will then close again in October for the completion of works which is expected just before Christmas.

Stage 1 as a whole is on track to be completed by the end of 2024. Full details on the project are available on the QLDC website.

The spiralling costs are blamed on local labour shortages, inflation and ongoing global supply chain pressures.

The project is being funded by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Central Government, which is stumping up $50 million of the total, through its pandemic-inspired Infrastructure Reference Group Fund.

Construction work on the arterial route, looking from Henry St, across Ballarat St, up towards Melbourne St, and St Joseph’s Church

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Queenstown Airport 2032

By Paul Taylor

A parallel taxiway, another aircraft parking stand, runway safety improvements, and the relocation of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft are among $350 million of changes planned for Queenstown Airport.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has launched its draft Master Plan for public consultation.

It sets out what the Frankton aerodrome will look like by 2032 and beyond, as QAC attempts to maximise efficiency to enable a 33% increase in passenger movements (arrivals and departures), from the current 2.3 million per year to 3.2 million.

That will see more than 4000 more scheduled flight movements, increasing from 17,900 to 22,112. There’ll also be 7000 more non-scheduled flight movements and a 15% increase in the size of the terminal, from 18,000sqm to 21,0000sq.

Many of those numbers were released in the 10-year Strategic Plan, which was approved by majority shareholder Queenstown Lakes District Council back in September.

“The [master] plan brings our strategic vision to life and provides the framework for an innovative airport that will continue to serve the region well,” QAC Board Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper says.

Under new QAC chief executive Glen Sowry, who’s been in the hot seat two years, QAC has made a commitment to operate within its existing noise boundaries for at least 10 years. The increase in flights is made possible by quieter aircraft.

He says the passenger and flight increases are modest, incremental at a 3.2% compound annual growth rate, and in line with projected population growth. QAC has talked to a “broad range of people from across the region” while creating the masterplan, he says.

“We are mindful of the importance of balancing aeronautical activity with both the capacity of regional infrastructure and preserving what makes the region a special place to live, work and visit.”

QAC also supports the plans for the resort to be carbon-zero by 2030, although Sowry says electric, hydrogen or fully SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) trans-Tasman flights are at least a few decades away yet.

There will be space for smaller electric planes next to the fixed wing and corporate jet terminal beyond 2032. Sowry says he doesn’t expect the number of corporate jets landing at Queenstown to increase “materially” over the coming decade.

The Master Plan also prioritises active travel and public transport links.

“We’re also proposing a new green link that will connect the terminal to cycle trails and down to the proposed ferry jetty on Lake Whakatipu.”

Young-Cooper says the aviation sector is on the verge of global changes, focused on decarbonisation and innovative technology.

“It is, therefore, important to have a Master Plan for an airport is future-ready and continues to contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of the region over the long term,” she says.

Despite the relatively high total cost, $350m, Young-Cooper says QAC will be able to continue to pay dividends to its shareholders, QLDC (75.01%) and Auckland International Airport Limited (24.99%), while managing its debt.

Future development will be staged and each step subject to approval by the board of directors, as well as any required shareholder and regulatory approvals before any capital investment is made.

Public consultation on the draft Master Plan is open until 23 June and is being done in consultation with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, via its Let’s Talk consultation page.

More information about the plan and consultation process can be found on Queenstown Airport’s website queenstownairport.co.nz.

Pop-up information sessions will also be held at public locations around Southern Lakes Region over the next month. A lunchtime webinar for the public will be held on 1 June.

“We encourage everyone to learn about our plans and to give us feedback,” Sowry says.

“We want to know what your vision for the airport is, what you like and what you would like to see change to ensure Queenstown Airport best meets the needs of the region and our communities in the decades ahead.”

Founded in 1935, Queenstown is New Zealand’s fourth busiest airport by passenger numbers, with daily scheduled flights from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and the east coast of Australia.

The key projects proposed in the draft Master Plan include:

• constructing a parallel taxiway to improve the efficiency of the airfield and to reduce emissions on the ground and in the air

• constructing an extra aircraft parking stand, bringing the total to nine stands

• relocating general aviation activities away from the main residential area of Frankton, with helicopters consolidated north of the runway and fixed-wing aircraft in a new precinct south of the runway, along with corporate / private jets

• enhancing the safety of the runway by installing new technology, with engineered materials arresting systems (EMAS) at each end

• building a new base for the Airport Emergency Service

• extending and modernising the terminal

• creating better passenger flow and land transport connections, prioritising active and public transport networks

Queenstown Airport

QAC Board Chair Adrienne Young-Cooper

QAC boss Glen Sowry explains the different aspects of the Master Plan

By Paul Taylor

On passenger number growth:

“The increase translates to just over 3% growth per annum [compounding]. Over the course of the decade, by any measure, we believe that is modest growth. There are some who would like to draw up the drawbridge today, but in my observation, that’s an absolute minority. There are many others who value the amenity, the convenience and the quality of the airport and want to see it continue in much the same way it does today, and to ensure we’re able, within reason, to meet demand. We’re not proposing that we grow exponentially, or that we support frictionless growth, and we’ve been very clear about that. The feedback I’ve had, from talking to people in the district over many months, is that what we’re proposing here is aligned to the community’s expectations.”

On community consultation:

“We think it’s a well-considered, thoughtful plan. We’re not putting out something speculative. We’ve put our best foot forward. We do, however, remain very open minded to feedback we get from the community. If there are aspects of the plan they think we haven’t got right, or need adjustment, we will listen carefully and give it due consideration.”

On the parallel taxiway:

“Queenstown Airport is somewhat unique for an airport of our size to have a single runway, where you land, do a U-turn at the end of the runway, and taxi back to the terminal. A parallel taxiway, as you see at Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland, pretty much any airport internationally, will make much more efficient use of the main runway. In Queenstown, it’s quite common for an aircraft to sit on the tarmac with its engines running, burning carbon, waiting for its turn to take off. Similarly, if you have an aircraft coming in which has missed its approach, it has to spend quite a lot more time in the air waiting for a clear runway. The parallel taxiway will also enable fixed wing operators to use the main runway, which is more efficient for them. In all cases, it will significantly reduce airborne and ground-based delays, which from an efficiency, reliability and on-time performance perspective, is a big improvement.”

On runway safety system:

“EMAS will be installed at both ends of the runway. It is used by a number of airports throughout Europe and North America, designed to catch and safely stop an aircraft that overruns the runway. It’s been used in anger about 40 times around the world, and in every case the aircraft has been recovered without damage, and there’s been no life lost. It’s a material that absorbs the energy, a sort of super-sophisticated truck gravel trap.”

On moving general aviation:

“We’ve been talking to operators for many, many months and socialising this draft master plan over the past few days. They’re very pleased there’s going to be designated space and infrastructure for them to continue to

operate at Queenstown Airport. A lot are on renewable leases, some of their infrastructure is sub-optimal, it’s pretty old. So, the potential for new purpose-built infrastructure, where we can co-locate similar activity, in a way that enables him to plan for the future, has been well received. Around 70% of helicopter take-offs are towards that direction [Five Mile side], so it also improves efficiency as they don’t have to cross the runway.”

On staging:

“We haven’t developed that in detail yet but in all likelihood, EMAS, the parallel taxiway and the relocation of general aviation would be the first stages. EMAS work would be night time but the parallel taxiway could be done at all hours of the day, because it doesn’t disrupt or conflict with operations.”

On sustainability:

“In the short term, the next decade, electric aircraft, are almost certainly going to be small format planes. All of the development that’s occurring is in turboprop electric aircraft. Depending on the network structure and where those planes fly, we may very well have a standalone electric aircraft precinct. As decarbonisation occurs of bigger aircraft, whether that be hydrogen, hybrid, SAF, a key feature of the Master Plan is that we are able to enable and facilitate operation of those aircraft at the main terminal. We’ll also have new public transport infrastructure, including a cycling hub and connection to the green link in QLDC’s Spatial Plan. It’s not just for passengers. We have a community of 700 people here and a reasonable number cycle to work.”

On $350m budget:

“Auckland Airport’s new domestic terminal will cost $3.9bn, so this is less that 10% of that. We’re very focused on ensuring this is as cost-effective as possible, not gold-plated. As the new infrastructure comes on stream, the airlines are able to make use of it and prepared to pay for it through aeronautical charges. The convenience of being able to fly into Queenstown is a huge competitive advantage for Queenstown Airport. We’re confident this will be a very sound investment for decades to come.”

‘Take a closer look’ says Gilmour

By Paul Taylor

Cath Gilmour, of Protect Queenstown, says: “There’s some good stuff in QAC’s draft Masterplan, and much spin that sounds good.

“They support tourism’s ‘Carbon Zero by 2030’ commitment, which includes visitors’ aircraft emissions, and say the forecast passenger and flight increases align with this. Really?

“And they’ve ‘not made any assumptions’ about numbers beyond 2032 – but saved space to increase aircraft stands by a third. Hmmm.

“They’ll operate within the air noise boundaries (ANB) until 2032, but can plan to grow beyond from 2033. Council could choose to enforce a permanent ban on expansion as quieter, bigger planes will take arrivals beyond our community’s already expressed over-tourism threshold. Will they? The ANB is council’s only control on tourist numbers.”

QAC have cherry-picked quotes from the Spatial Plan, she says, which identifies ZQN as our district’s major metropolitan centre “despite the 153ha airport plonked in its midst”.

The plan also says the Green Lane will not actually happen until road capacity is nearly maxed out, unless QLDC and Waka Kotahi come to the party, and after 2032.

“And the new taxiway means flights can be squeezed tighter together, every minute or two rather than every six as currently. Operating hours are 6am-10pm, but they’ve ‘chosen not to allow’ flights before 7am. As they’ve mentioned it in the plan, they can change their mind any time. “If any of this concerns you, please submit on the Masterplan.”

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Queenstown regular bus service resumes this week

Queenstown’s Orbus services will move back to their regular timetable from this Thursday, 1 June.

The national bus driver shortage led to a reduced timetable being implemented for both Queenstown and Dunedin in July 2022. There were also last-minute cancellations of services on the reduced timetable.

The services are managed by Otago Regional Council (ORC).

ORC Interim Chief Executive, Dr Pim Borren, says the council has worked with bus operators to ensure the increased services will run smoothly at key times as far as is possible.

“Bus operators have been working hard to bring us a regular timetable in the face of a national shortage of drivers.

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“I’m thrilled that we are moving back to our full schedule of services and apologise for the almost 12 months we had to go to a reduced timetable due to the driver shortage, which was a national problem.”

Borren says more drivers have been recruited for Queenstown, which enables the increase in daily trips.

“There will be an increase in services, but we ask passengers to prepare for possible cancellations as the new timetable beds in and given the winter flu season is upon us.”

The updated timetable information will be on the Transit App and the ORC website where passengers would usually find their timetable information and updated information on your bus will be on the screens at the Frankton Hub. Paper timetables will be available at outlets throughout Queenstown. The new regular timetable information will start to be put up at bus stops and on the ORC website from 1 June. Passengers can use the Journey Planner to plan their trips at www.orc.govt.nz/Orbus.

Otago Regional Council, along with A J Hackett, is also providing free buses for the LUMA Festival which takes place between Thursday, 1 June, and Monday, 5 June.

Before setting out on their trip, passengers are urged to check for alerts on the ORC website or the Transit app. A free phone number 0800 672 87 786 is also available.

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FROM AROUND THE WORLD

A New Map Reveals the Complicated World in Which Cells Seek to Repair Damaged DNA

A team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, have produced a novel map that depicts the human body’s enormously complicated and highly evolved system for addressing and repairing DNA damage — a cause and consequence of many diseases.

Damage to DNA and replication errors caused by stress and other factors play a major role in disease, and are a hallmark of cancer and other afflictions. To maintain the integrity of the genome and support normal functioning and health, cells have evolved an intricate network of cell-cycle checkpoints and DNA damage repair tools, collectively known as DNA damage response or DDR.

Defects in DDR are caused by unstable DNA, erroneous repeats, rearrangements and mutations. Conversely, better understanding how DDR works and why it sometimes fails provides new therapeutic opportunities to treat or cure the same diseases.

US SanDiego

We need to protect kids from social media risks immediately

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory last week on the potential dangers of social media for children, highlighting its negative impact on mental health and overall well-being.

While social media can be beneficial as a creative outlet, studies show excessive social media use is linked to problems such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, disrupted sleep patterns, negative body image, and reduced physical activity. Spending more than three hours per day on social media was found to double the risk of symptoms related to depression and anxiety—teenagers average around 3.5 hours. The report outlines recommendations for technology companies and policymakers, including strengthening safety standards, enhancing data privacy measures, and considering age restrictions.

CNBC

Fire razes Guyana dormitory, killing 19 mainly Indigenous girls

A fire raced through a dormitory in Guyana, killing at least 19 students who were trapped and injuring several others at a government boarding school as authorities probe whether it was intentionally set. All but one of the victims were Indigenous girls.

“This is a horrific incident. It’s tragic. It’s painful,” President Irfaan Ali said, adding that his government was mobilizing all possible resources as he requested help from the region to identify the remains of 13 bodies. Deputy Fire Chief Dwayne Scotland said “the fire was maliciously set” and began in the building’s southwest corner.

AP

Mount Etna Erupts

Italy’s Mount Etna erupted last week, spewing ash across parts of Sicily’s eastern coast and canceling flights from the city of Catania. No injuries or damage were reported. Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, with multiple eruptions in both 2021 and 2022. The formation is a stratovolcano, typically characterized by a steep summit and a crater, capable of either explosive eruptions or slow-and-steady lava flows. It is also one of 16 across the globe to have been designated as a “decade” volcano - those with a significant probability of a destructive eruption while also being located near high-density urban centers.

The mountain is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations (when not erupting), with close to 1 million people visiting per year.

Reuters

QUEENSTOWN LAKES DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION BOARD: EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT

The Queenstown Lakes Destination Management Organisation (DMO) will work collaboratively with the district’s regional tourism organisations (Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism), Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and other relevant third parties to support the implementation of initiatives from TraveltoaThrivingFuture- the destination management plan for the Queenstown Lakes.

The DMO will have a lead role in the creation, management, and implementation of the destination management plan, with the goal of a future focused, regenerative visitor economy across the Queenstown and Wānaka region. It will bring to life initiatives which support the visitor economy to add value across social, cultural, environmental, and economic measures. The DMO creates the environment to support the desire from our communities and business to transition to a regenerative tourism model.

As a new entity, the DMO is seeking to appoint a Board of Directors which will comprise of no more than seven Directors, one of which will be appointed as the Chair at the first meeting of the Board. Applications are sought from suitably qualified candidates for these Board positions. A person specification and a copy of the DMO’s constitution are available on the QLDC website (www.qldc.govt.nz) but skills and experience that will be considered favourably include:

• prior experience as a director, trustee or in a similar governance role,

• knowledge and experience in destination management and marketing at an international, national and local level,

• knowledge and experience in the tourism sector,

• understanding and knowledge of the Queenstown Lakes District.

Applications close on Friday, 23 June 2023 and should be sent for the attention of:

Katie Obermoser, Human Resources & Administration Manager

Destination Queenstown PO Box 353 Queenstown 9300 or via email: katieo@queenstownNZ.nz

10 Gorge Road Queenstown

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

Educator sought for second mobile life education classroom

By Sue Fea

A second valuable Life Education Trust Heartland mobile classroom has finally been purchased specifically for the Queenstown Lakes-Central Otago area, enabling the trust to reach an extra 5000 students a year.

Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland administrator Dana Young says there’s been such demand that for the past five or six years the one mobile truck on a trailer classroom has only been able to cater for each school biennially. “We’ve been operating at capacity and are totally booked up so with the second classroom that should free up more time and flexibility,” says Dana.

Population growth across the region means there are more schools and more students. “We just can’t fit everyone in with one educator and one classroom,” she says. “It’s our mission to see every school visited annually. We just haven’t been able to do that for a long time.”

The trust is advertising for a part-time registered teacher educator to operate the second bus, which should be in action locally by the start of Term 4 after refurbishment is completed. Purchased from the Western Bay of Plenty Trust for $50,000 after years of fundraising, the total expansion will cost $160,000 all up with the trust contributing $120,000 and Central Lakes Trust stumping up the remaining $40,000.

Founded 25 years ago, the mobile classroom and its ‘Harold the Giraffe’ mascot has been a hit with kids aged from five to 13 all over the trust region from Dunedin to Central Otago, the Wakatipu and south to Gore, providing vital health and well-being education in a fun, interactive, age-appropriate way. The highly-trained educators deliver individualised lessons for each school on topics like how brilliant the human body is, healthy food nutrition and lifestyle, relationships and communities, resilience, coping mechanisms and identities. Digital citizenship and online safety are also covered and educators tailor the lessons to any particular issues, such as bullying, that certain schools may be facing, says Dana. There’s been more demand for greater focus on the resilience, coping and mental health theme since Covid struck in 2020, she says.

The classrooms are fitted out with the latest state of the art education technology and are designed to be a place where special things happen for kids, with the likes of stars on the ceiling. “Kids feel really safe in there. It’s a really special highlight that they look forward to.” The aim is that each child gets two to three sessions a year.

Current educator Pip Tisdall, who’s based in Lawrence, has been doing a sterling job catering for all the schools in the region for 16 years and will train the second educator to be dedicated to Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. Dana says Pip’s passion for education and dedication to the kids of the region is unparalleled. “We’re excited for her to share her knowledge and skills and to work alongside our new educator during the training process.”

Trust chair Tracey van Herel says the new mobile classroom and additional educator would help the Trust to achieve its mission of empowering children to make positive choices for their health and well-being. “We are thrilled to be able to expand our reach and provide more children in our region with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being,” she says. The programme will be delivered to more schools, more frequently.

To get in touch: heartland@lifeedtrust.org.nz

Life Education long-time educator Pip Tisdall in the classroom with students in Lawrence

Girls just want to have fun… Big boost to kids netball numbers

by Sue Fea

Girls just want to have fun… and a few boys too, in kids’ netball in the Wakatipu with huge growth in the number of especially primary aged girls playing during the past five years.

Wakatipu Netball Centre President Fi Ryall says there were 655 school-age players locally in 2018 from Years 3 to 13, and this season there are 810. “Netball South conducted a survey in 2021 which showed Wakatipu Netball Centre netball was growing well ahead of the population growth for the area, which is pretty cool,” says Fi.

Numbers have been rising at a crazy rate for the past few years, especially at primary school level, and Fi says that’s due in part to removing the grading system. “Since then participation has gone through the roof,” says Fi. “I think that was a deterrent, especially for girls, as we’ve had way more girls since then.”

No more striving to make the A, B or C team has seen many more Years 6, 7 and 8 girls take to the court.

“We’re one of the few centres in NZ that’s growing with many others, I understand, seeing a decline in numbers,” says Fi. Sport NZ research shows sport is losing 13 and 14-year-old girls at an alarming rate so she says it’s important to encourage them to continue.

Almost 600 local primary schoolchildren are now playing junior netball and while population growth has definitely been a factor Fi says interest has simply “grown exponentially” with lots of new girls joining in Year 8.

“The whole ethos with junior sport is trying to encourage development and participation. At 11 and 12 they have the rest of their lives to be competitive if they want to,” says Fi. Junior sport is about being inclusive so everybody gets to learn those skills, she says.

There are 11 Year 8 and seven Year 7 primary school teams playing in the Saturday competition, already well underway for this year, from Queenstown Primary, Remarkables, Shotover, St Joseph’s and Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau Schools. An active group of five and six-year-olds are also developing skills in the local Future Ferns programme.

Centre junior committee member and Te Kura o Kawarau netball and Future Ferns coach Rachel Little says the school has four teams this year with 38 playing – 19 completely new to the game. Teacher Joe Wearne has also been a huge support.

Roll numbers have grown exponentially from 90 since the school opened in February last year, now at 240.

With school mum Adrienne Muir - Global COO of VoxSmart Ltd, a Global Fintech firm based in London, NY, Madrid, Australia and London, at the helm on sponsorship, the young would-be Silver Ferns are getting kitted out in sponsored hoodies. “Three local female-founded businesses have got behind our girls to support the next generation who will go on to do incredible things,” says Adrienne. “Our girls will now proudly wear the sponsorship logos of those companies – Whitelaw Mitchell, Remarkables Planning and Tru Women’s Gym, as well as Impact, which supports all local school uniforms, and those women are proud to support our growing community.”

Most of these girls will continue playing through high school and Wakatipu High School Director of Sport Laura Nathan says numbers are definitely growing among the Year 9s. “There’s been some great development work being done by the Wakatipu Netball Centre for the junior club and programmes that have ensured larger numbers of netballers are transferring over to Year 9,” says Laura. “We have almost 75 Year 9s this year, up at least 15 on last year. We had five or six Year 9 teams and this year we have seven or eight.”

She says the number of girls playing normally declines as they transition more into high school. “Now the challenge is to ensure they continue with it.”

Budding young Silver Ferns from Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau School ready to get into action on the court

Some of Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau School’s keen young netballers ready to take it out on the court this season

FOUND

Lost & Found

Unclaimed items sitting at the Police Station, at 11 Camp Street, this week include:

• RIANI ITI-MATUATAI – purse

• RANGI KAVENEY – wallet

• YIJUN (Alex) WANG – wallet

• White ‘Marakai’ wallet

• MICHAEL AKED – wallet

• THOMAS NEILSON – wallet

• COREY ROBINSON – wallet

• DAWN TOIG – cardholder

• KIM SANGHANK HANA – cardholder

• Silver coloured ring with clear stones, found at the Bathhouse playground 28/05/23

• Black Google phone in folding case

• Black and blue X-Fusion small framed bike, located at Shotover Primary School.

• Gold and Opal earring (hoop)

• Ipearl Powerbank

• Drill battery ‘Makita’ found by the bathhouse playground

• Blue Panasonic Lumix camera in black pouch, found at Five Rivers

• Brown Arcteryx jacket with USB in pocket, found at Cowboys

For Rent

STORAGE UNIT FOR RENT. SPACE AVAILABLE 2.8 x 3m. Clean carpet, and secure unit in town. Access during business hours 9am - 5pm. $290 per month. It would be great for storage of stock, clothes, or other easily movable items. 03 441 8178

Accommodation

STUDIO FOR RENT, JACKS POINT. DOUBLE BED, fully furnished, heat pump, TV, private bathroom and entry. Suit older quiet tenant. $450 weekly. Text: 021 08031608 for details or viewing.

KIA ORA, FRENCH SINGLE MALE, 39 YO, no kids, looking for a new place to stay (long term, central QT). I’m working in Hospo. I have a comfortable budget, I’m clean, I don’t smoke, no pets, and not a party animal. 0225003187 or fabien.delavie@gmail.com

Community

FREE IMMIGRATION CLINIC. IF YOU NEED IMMIGRATION information or advice the Citizens Advice Bureau run an immigration clinic every Wednesday from 7pm. To make an appointment call them on 03 442 6679

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 Monday – Saturday 9.00 – 5.00. Pre-loved goods and clothing at great prices. Help support the ongoing work done by the SPCA. Your old goods, or your time, could help save a life. Accepting donations (no electrical at the moment) and volunteers now. Volunteers wanted!

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.

ST JOHN ROOMS FOR HIRE. 1 X office space with free WIFI. 1 x room seats 30, 1 x room seats 100 with whiteboards, smart TVs, projector screens, free WIFI, shared kitchen and fantastic views! Contact Sarah on 027 206 6340 or queenstownreception@stjohn. org.nz for bookings and more info.

Everything Else

QUEENSTOWN DHARMA CENTRE, 12 LAKE ST. WED (31 May), @ 6:30pm, “Calm Mind, Open Heart” with Grant Rix; SUN (4 June), from 2:30pm - 5:30pm, Amnyi Trulchung Rinpoche’s monthly guidance on “A Guide to the Way of Life of a Bodhisattva.” Sessions are free with dana for the centre/teacher gratefully accepted. More info on dharmacentre.org.nz or FB.

NEED AN IDYLLIC SPOT IN KINGSTON TO rent for your tiny home or caravan? Please text 022 404 3545.

HAVE THAT NIGGLING ACHE OR PAIN THAT just won’t go away? A recurring condition, or maybe you’re looking for something to assist alongside your more traditional treatments to speed up recovery? Two Feathers can help, an Alternative & Holistic Health Service including Tuning Forks, Energy Healing & Reiki Master. For more info contact Amy on: healing@ twofeathers.co.nz or 022 454 8288

ENGLISH LESSONS ONLINE. DO YOU NEED HELP with your grammar, writing, conversation, exam preparation, or more? Individual, partner, or group lessons available online with qualified native English teachers. Email for more information Letstalkenglish@outlook.co.nz

SEND A PHOTO OF YOU WITH THE LWB AROUND NZ to graphics@qmg.co.nz and be in to win a Devil Burger Meal Voucher

WORKSHOP AND UPHOLSTERY

Subsidiary of Queenstown Taxis

Ph 03 450 2920

SAVE BIG ON CAR MAINTENANCE AND BEAT RISING LIVING COSTS!

Are skyrocketing living costs putting a dent in your budget? Fear not! Prepare yourself for the upcoming winter season while keeping your hard-earned dollars intact. Introducing our incredible JUNE SPECIALS with a trusted, locally-owned, and operated company dedicated to providing top-notch automotive repair services for both individuals and businesses.

• 20% off Tyres: Ensure your vehicle’s safety and performance with brand new, reliable tires at an exclusive discount

• 15% off Servicing: Give your car the TLC it deserves with our comprehensive servicing options, expertly tailored to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

• 15% off Batteries: Don’t let the cold winter weather leave you stranded. Replace your battery now and enjoy great savings while guaranteeing a reliable start every time

At Queenstown Workshop and Upholstery, we take pride in our team of highly skilled and qualified experts who possess years of experience in the automotive industry.

Rest assured, your vehicle will receive nothing less than exceptional care and attention to detail. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, we’re fully prepared to tackle any challenge that comes our way, ensuring your needs are met and your expectations exceeded

Our comprehensive services include:

• Automotive Repairs: From minor fixes to major overhauls, we’ve got you covered with our expertise and precision

• Auto-electrician on Site: Count on us to handle any electrical issues your vehicle may encounter, providing efficient solutions right at our workshop

• Tyres: Choose from a wide range of quality tires that offer optimal performance and safety, backed by our exclusive discount

• Warrant of Fitness Arranged with Authorised Inspectors: Let us take care of your WOF requirements, coordinating with authorized inspectors for a hassle-free process

• Offsite and After-Hours Call Outs: We understand emergencies can happen anytime. Rely on us to come to your aid promptly, no matter the time or location.

HOSPO GUIDE

Tuesday $1 Wings* Wednesday All-You-Can-Eat Meat $35pp*

Thursday $12.95 Schnitty*

30 MAY - 6 JUNE

Wednesday Silent Disco, 9.30pm Two Venues, Three Colours, Three Channels, Three DJs

Thursday DJ Tess’s Cook-up 9 pm

Friday Chewed out with Grizzly 9 pm

HAPPY HOUR 3-5pm EVERY DAY!

$9 Whakatipu Brewing pints & $9 house wines!

Coming up Winter Launch Party 9th June 5pm to late Win a Jagermaester snowboard and lots of other prizes! Live DJ, food and drink specials

Monday $12.95 Burgers*

Night, 9pm Bring your mates, play whatever!

Saturday R!SKY Shenanigans 9pm

Sunday Sessions with Danny Atkinson 5 pm Late Nights with DJ Yuki 9pm

Monday Mischief Managed with DJ Tess 9 pm

Food by Mojo Kai available 12-9pm everyday!

Friday Patio Beats & Cocktails 5pm

Saturday House Night with Ben Lock 5pm

Welcome to LUMA 2023, a sensory experience bringing together illuminated art, light sculpture, performance and community over five days.

QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT PROUD TO BACK LUMABILITY PROJECT

A bright idea to make the LUMA Southern Light Project accessible to all is being sponsored by Queenstown Airport.

LUMAbility will be run as a pilot project when the popular arts, performance and sensory event returns to the Queenstown Gardens at King’s Birthday Weekend, 1-5 June, 2023.

Guided tours catering to diverse needs will be offered outside normal operating times so guests can enjoy the artworks and musical installations without having to navigate crowds and traffic congestion.

“LUMA is a wonderful event and we want to make it welcoming and accessible to everyone,” Queenstown Airport’s Partnerships and Marketing Manager, Vanessa Hartnell, said.

“We hope LUMAbility will provide a really memorable experience. And, if it is a success, it could be used as a model for other inclusive community events.”

LUMAbility organisers have been working with community groups such as the Pivotal Point Charitable Trust, the Mint Charitable Trust, Living Options, IDEA Services and the Wakatipu Senior Citizens Association to develop the pilot project.

Tours will be tailored to the audience and will be run by Sunny Sky, from Epic Living, who has a wealth of experience working with alongside groups with diverse abilities.

ALL ABOARD THE LUMA BUS

If you’re planning to head in to LUMA this King’s Birthday Weekend the last thing you want to be doing is driving around looking for a park

The FREE LUMA Bus will be running from Queenstown Central Shopping Centre from 5pm each night of LUMA (1 – 5 June) offering a non-stop return service to ease the congestion and give everyone a chance to grab a bite to eat, jump on the bus and arrive at the Gardens nice and relaxed.

Park your vehicle for free at Queenstown Central Shopping Centre (time restrictions will not apply for the event). Hop-on the bus on Central Street (opposite Subway). Hop-off/return via Park Street (LUMA entrance/exit).

Central Street will be closed to thru-traffic from 4:30pm each night of LUMA for the exclusive travel of buses with road diversions in place.

If you need more info go to LUMA.nz or queenstowncentral.co.nz

GOINGS ON ABOUT

EVENTS - MUSIC - ART THEATRE - AT THE GALLERIES

Hui: Arts, Culture & Heritage in Queenstown Lakes District

Interested in arts, culture and heritage in our district?

Three Lakes Cultural Trust invites locals to an upcoming hui, bring a friend, and have your say in the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Queenstown Lakes District. Be part of the conversation and together let’s craft a strategy for our district that accurately reflects our community.

These hui’s are for everyone, regardless of your level of involvement in the arts, cultural or heritage scene.

Tāhuna Queenstown

When: Tuesday 30 May, 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm

Where: Lake Hayes Pavillion

Glenorchy

When: Wednesday 7 June l 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Where: Headwaters Eco Lodge, Camp Glenorchy

Immigration Advice

If you need immigration information or advice the Citizens Advice Bureau run an immigration clinic every Wednesday from 7pm. To make an appointment call them on 03 442 6679.

When: Wednesday 31 May at 7 pm

Where: Citizens Advice, Queenstown, 44 Stanley Street

Budgeting Advice

Life can be a balancing act and sometimes things beyond your control can throw the balance completely off, Citizens Advice offers free and discreet financial advice on how you can maintain that balance. Often you are in the depth of the issues and are feeling a little overwhelmed, you need someone to help clear your mind and reprioritize. That’s our Budget advisor! Call for an appointment on 03 442 6799.

Where: Citizens Advice, Queenstown, 44 Stanley Street

Queenstown Ambassador workshop

Queenstown Ambassador is a workshop designed for anyone engaging with visitors across the region. The aim is to build a host community and create storytellers and ambassadors with real pride in the Queenstown Lakes region.

This is a three-hour workshop delving into the history and unique story of Queenstown and surrounding areas, covering early people, key milestones, and industries, the economy as well as notable figures and landmarks that have contributed to shaping the region into what it is today.

Ambassador is for everyone whether new to the area or you have lived here for a lifetime.

The programme is delivered on a fortnightly basis on Friday morning from 9am – 12pm, and costs $50 + GST per person. For more information head online to nzambassador.com.

When: Friday, 2 Jun, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Where: Queenstown Resort College, 7 Coronation Dr

Pints for Pups

Canyon Brewery & SPCA have teamed up with New Zealand Dog Photography to capture your pooches looking their very best for a great cause. $20 gets you 2-3 professional pawtraits of your dog with a designated doggy backdrop and puppy props. There will be house-made dog treats for the pooches and a special Pints For Pups beer on tap for all the paw-rents to enjoy.

A portion of profits from the day, as well as $2 from every calendar sold, will be donated to the SPCA. - Dressed up pooches are encouraged!

When: Saturday 3 June, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Where: Canyon Restaurant, 1 Arthurs Point Rd, Arthurs Point

Welcome to Winter Party fundraiser

The Arrowtown School is hosting a Welcome to Winter party on June 10 with a line up of entertainment that includes Sam Maxwell and The Crown Rangers, live and silent auctions and raffles which will be held during the event. All proceeds from the party are going to Arrowtown School.

Tickets are only $60 and include grazing platters, entry, and a cash bar is available. Tickets are available online at https://welcome-to-winter-party.raisely.com

When: Saturday 10 June from 6:00 pm

Where: Arrowtown Athenaeum Hall, 33 Buckingham Street

First Thursday - Queenstown’s favorite late night art crawl

First Thursday’s Queenstown is a free community event that celebrates the diversity of arts and culture in the region. First Thursday is a friendly art crawl where you chose the route and the amount of time spent at each exhibition.

EVENTS

Bringing together StarkWhite, Milford Galleries, Romer, Artbay and Lightworx First Thursdays seeks to connect people with creativity and offers exhibitions, talks and opportunities to meet likeminded individuals during a special late-night opening from 5pm-7pm. See this week’s Arts and Culture for more.

When: Thursday June 1, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

LUMA

LUMA is our award-winning sensory experience held over five nights across the Kings Birthday weekend. Kicking off Winter in style, this is the event you won’t want to miss. Lose yourself in our illuminated takeover of the Queenstown Gardens.

LUMA ADMISSION provides you with access on your chosen day between 5pm and 10pm.

LUMA Capacities are limited each day to ensure a unique and comfortable experience for all attending.

After a hugely successful LUMA21, we return to the Gardens for a unique celebration of our alpine nightscape, including live music, illuminated art, sculpture, sonic environments, interactive performance, local eats and plenty of unexpected moments at every turn.

COME LIT - The more you take part, the more you’ll take home, and you won’t lose your kids.

When: Thursday 1 – Monday 5 June 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Where: Queenstown Gardens

Michael Hill International Violin Competition

New Zealand’s globally regarded Michael Hill International Violin Competition, is considered an ‘Olympics of the violin world’, 16 of the world’s finest young violinists compete in Queenstown and then Auckland. Over eight days, a feast of spellbinding acts of virtuosity, heartstring-tugging treasures and heroic masterpieces are performed. The prestigious international judging panel selects the top three to perform in the judged grand final concert with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at Auckland’s Town Hall on 10 June.

The “Michael Hill” is recognised as one of the most sought-after international violin prizes and the careers of future musical legends are launched here in New Zealand when they go head-to-head for a prize package valued at over $100,000.

The competition is supported by the Hill Family Foundation.

When: Friday 2 June to Monday 5 June

Where: Queenstown Memorial Hall, 1 Memorial Drive

Wakatipu Grill Winemakers Dinner, hosted by Wild Earth Wines

Join Hilton Resort and Spa’s Wakatipu Grill at a Winemakers Dinner on Thursday 8 June, hosted by Wild Earth Wines General Manager Elbert Jolink. Enjoy a flavour-filled evening with Wakatipu Grill’s specially created three-course menu, perfectly paired with wines from Wild Earth.

This fun table-sharing dining experience is the perfect setting to catch up with friends, and to make new wine-loving ones. $135 per person, includes canapés, three courses and four wine matches

Booking Online: https://www.kawarauvillage.com/event-details/wildearth

To book, scan the QR code: LWB Reader Special: Use code ‘WildEarthLWB’ for 15% off your ticket price.

When: Thursday, 8 June from 6:00 pm

Where: Wakatipu Grill, Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa

French Film Festival Aotearoa 2023

The L’OR French Film Festival Aotearoa delivers the crème de la crème of French cinema to the big screen in Arrowtown. Whatever your preference, there is a selection of the most fantastique French films for 2023. The festival will run at Dorothy Browns from the 2nd to 14th June. Check out frenchfilmfestival.co.nz for more information and ticketing.

When: Friday 2 June to Wednesday 14 June

Where: Dorothy Browns, 18 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown

MISSHAPEN

CINEMA

EXHIBITION

Misshapen is an immersive light installation that delves into the complex relationship between experience and memory. Through the interplay of light and medium, this work captures the distortion that inevitably occurs as we remember our past. Drawing on personal experience, this piece explores how our memories are shaped by emotional intensity and often coloured by our subjective judgments.

This installation invites the audience to consider the ways in which we distort and manipulate our memories over time. As we mull over past experiences, our minds can alter and bend or warp the ‘truth’. The work challenges to confront this process, embrace the present moment and contemplate the power you hold in shaping your own memories.

When: Exhibition opening: Thursday 1 June, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday 2 June – Monday 5 June, 12 pm - 6 pm

Where: Astor Bristed Gallery, 3/54 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown

If you would like your show, event, exhibition or meeting promoted in Goings On drop me a line at davidgibbs@qmg.co.nz with the details

Film festival announces winners, launches programme

The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival has announced its winners for the 2023 festival and launched its programme.

The International Adventure Film Competition attracted 177 entries, with 58 films being selected to screen at the event. This includes 11 world premieres and 36 New Zealand premieres.

The Grand Prize was awarded to UK director Jake Holland for his film, New Way Up.

Set in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan, it follows a team of climbers with an ambitious plan to scale a technical granite pinnacle that has never been summited, known as Gulmit Tower, making the tricky approach by paraglider. “When we travelled to Pakistan, we really didn’t know what we would get done,” Holland explains. “So much relies on the weather and conditions in the mountains.

“When Fabi and Will started to discuss the idea of attempting Gulmit Tower, an obvious story started to emerge, which as a filmmaker was a very exciting prospect. For the film to win the grand prize, is a beautiful surprise.”

As NZ’s only adventure film competition, the NZMFF provides a platform for Kiwi creatives to showcase their talents. The 2023 programme includes 17 NZ-made films.

Nick Kowalski is the winner of the prestigious Hiddleston/ MacQueen Award and $2500 prizemoney for the Best NZ-made Film for his film Changabang: Return to the Shining Mountain.

The film follows three climbers from the NZ Alpine Team as they try to repeat the iconic first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang made by British alpinists Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker in 1976 and featured in the book Shining Mountain. One of the team members, Kim Ladiges, will be speaking at the festival in Wānaka on Sunday 25 June.

“As a keen mountaineer myself, making this film has been a real treat,” Kowalski says. “Getting to see behind the scenes of such a legendary climb and getting an insight into the minds of some of the best climbers in the world really has been special and I’m so stoked to receive the award and share the film with everyone.”

For the Blue, by NZ director Nathalie Nasrallah, won Best Film on the Environment

Kowalski also takes out the award for Best Climbing Film – Enchainment which follows 2022 festival speakers Alastair McDowell and Hamish Fleming on their quest to enchain New Zealand’s 24 highest mountains above 3,000m in a continuous 31-day push. This is the first time in the festival’s 20-year history a NZ made film has won this award.

For the first time, a New Zealand director has also won the award for the Best Film on the Environment. NZ director Nathalie Nasrallah takes out the prize for her film For the Blue. Created and funded by a group of young ocean-loving Kiwis, the film details how plastic pollution is damaging our environment and shows real world solutions on how to fix it.

“I’m quite chuffed and proud to see the quality of the NZ filmmakers and they really deserve the awards they received this year,” Festival Director Mark Sedon says.

“Kiwis have adventure in our blood and we often play down our accomplishments, but with the use of film we can recreate and share these experiences and receive deserved praise from our peers.”

The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wānaka from 23 – 27 June and in Queenstown from 29 – 30 June.

A still from Best NZmade Film Changabang: Return to the Shining Mountain

TRAINBRAIN YOUR

1. In the USA, what term is used for any swampy area in Louisiana?

2. The garden flower, the antirrhinum, has which common name?

3. What is Switzerland's largest city?

4. Which girl's name is also the botanical name for the laurel bush?

5. Who played Goldfinger in the 1964 Bond film of the same name?

6. The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is situated in which City of London arts complex?

7. Which Moroccan city is said to have the world’s oldest university?

8. What was the name of the one-eyed woman in the cartoon series Futurama?

9. What is the imaginary dukedom in which Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is set?

10. What honorary title is given to a retired professor?

11. What is the most famous feature of the Sagarmatha National Park?

12. What’s the first name of Kramer in the TV series Seinfeld?

13. Which taxonomic classification is immediate below “family”?

14. The anchor hallmark is applied to silver made in which British city?

15. Which 1995 film was based on the children's book The SheepPig?

16. The accordion is a member of which family of musical instruments?

17. Which famous Roman statesman and orator died in 43 BC?

18. Through which mountains does the St Gotthard Pass run?

19. Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard are in which US state?

20. Which letter of the Greek alphabet precedes iota?

21. What land measure is equivalent to 4840 square yards?

22. In which European city is Wencelas Square?

23. In a standard pack of cards, what are the queens pictured holding?

TECHNOLOGY

by David Gibbs

Some Siri features you should be using on your iPhone

Apple has slowly been improving Siri over the years, but because Apples’ voice assistant has a relatively poor reputation, I haven’t used it a lot. However things are on the improve and Siri can be really useful especially knowing some of the more useful commands, so here is a selection of my favorites.

Ask Siri to find a password for you

Example usage: “Hey Siri, what’s my Netflix password?”

The ability to save your login credentials with Apple’s password manager is one of the most useful parts of having an iPhone. It’s even more useful if you also have a Mac or an iPad, since it syncs over iCloud to all these devices. You can even use iCloud for Windows and an Edge or Chrome extension to access your passwords on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC by the way.

Finding passwords manually is painful, well for me at least, since you’ll have to dig around the Settings app, find Passwords, then find a specific entry. It’s much easier to simply ask Siri to find a specific password for you, at which point you’ll be taken to any relevant results that show up. From here, you can share or copy your password or even generate a new one.

Get Siri to locate your car

Example usage: “Hey Siri, where am I parked?”

Admittedly this isn’t necessarily an issue in Queenstown, but should you be at the airport or away on a trip, your iPhone is pretty good at knowing where you’ve parked your car, especially if you use Apple CarPlay or connect to a Bluetooth head unit. When your iPhone detects that the connection has been severed, it will mark your car’s last parked location in Apple Maps. With this information on hand, Siri can reveal where you’ve parked with a simple command.

Adding to Lists and Notes with Siri

Example usage: “Hey Siri, add carrots to my shopping list”

Siri has been able to do this since forever, but it can save you so much time that it bears repeating. Add items to lists or add text to a note simply using your voice, which is especially handy if your hands are otherwise occupied. A classic example is adding items to your grocery list while in the middle of cooking something in the kitchen.

It’s also useful when you’re driving or exercising and don’t have the capacity or focus to reach for your phone. Sure, Siri might make a few mistakes and mishear a word or two, but you can tidy the note or reminder up later.

Setting your alarm

Example usage: Hey Siri, set alarm for 6.45am.

Ever jumped into bed and forgotten to set the alarm. If you ask Siri to do it for you on your phone, it makes it that much easier and what’s better Siri confirms the time back to you, so there is no chance of a slip up.

Ask Siri where you are right now

Example usage: “Hey Siri, where am I?”

Another tip that’s useful when driving is asking Siri to tell you where you are to get a street address and current neighborhood. This is great if you’re driving around a new area and don’t want to get distracted by a touchscreen map.

Use Siri to find a lost iPhone’s owner

Example usage: “Hey Siri, who owns this iPhone?”

We live in a tourist town, and I’m struck by how many people lose their phone. Ask Siri who owns the iPhone you’ve found and are holding and, assuming they have a contact associated with themselves, you should see a contact card appear. You’ll get a name and the option to place a call. How useful this is depends on whether the iPhone’s owner has disabled Siri and other functions from the lock screen, but it’s a good starting point if you’ve found a lost device. You can also try other contacts like “call home” and other common labels like work, dad, partner, wife, and so on.

$25

Is currently seeking CHEFS / LINE COOKS

per hour to start, potentially more based on experience

If you're interested in joining one of Queenstown's iconic restaurants and bars email your CV to chris@smithscraftbeer.co.nz or apply in person.

Valid working visa required.

Full Time Hairdresser Role at Frankton Hair Studio Apply Now.

We're looking for a full time hairdresser for our amazing team here at Frankton Hair. Hours are negotiable Monday to Friday with one late night but NO weekends required!

We’d love you to have a few years experience and be competent in all aspects of Hairdressing. Start date negotiable.

If this sounds like you, call Becky on 021 144 8191 or email your C.V to Franktonhair@gmail.com

VACANCIES

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

Pastry Chef

Looking for a talented and creative Pastry Chef to join our strong brigade at Botswana Butchery.

We have a number of positions for Ski & Snowboard Rental Staff for the coming season.

Previous experience in the Winter sports industry is preferred.

Accommodation available if hired. Email CV & references to apply jobs@snowrental.co.nz

Building Labourer Wanted

For full time residential building work. Previous experience in the construction industry is required. Competitive hourly rate. Must have full drivers licence and own reliable transport. Good spoken English essential. Contact Mike on 027 566 3489 or email mikekelly@tahunabuilding.co.nz

Kitchen Porter

Looking for a team player to join us at White + Wong’s as a full time Kitchen Porter. Competitive rates of pay and company perks available please contact Warwick.Taylor@goodgroup.co.nz

Proven 3 – 5 years experience in a One Hatted environment or similar role. Competitive rates of pay and company perks available. Please contact Warwick.Taylor@goodgroup.co.nz FOR YOUR JOB VACANCY

Assistant Manager

Required at Super Liquor Remarkables Park Frankton Queenstown. Who we are looking for:

• Full Time position, on weekly roster including nights and weekends.

• General Manager Certificate a must

• Sound Knowledge of product is required.

• Great communication skills

• Must be physically fit and have a sense of humour.

• Attention to detail to ensure our high standards are maintained.

• Able to assist the manager in day-to-day operations of the business, which includes retail sales, stocking, ordering, overseeing functions, stock takes and general daily operations.

Must be honest reliable and have customers sales experience and be willing to learn. Forklift licence an advantage. If you have what we are looking for please contact the manager Heather Wilson at remarkablespark@superliquor.co.nz or call (03) 4429801.

Receptionist/office admin assistant

Receptionist/office admin assistant

At MACTODD we pride ourselves on having the very best people in our team and our reception/office admin role is often the first point of contact with our clients and is therefore pivotal to our Queenstown Office.

At MACTODD we pride ourselves on having the very best people in our team and our reception/office admin role is often the first point of contact with our clients and is therefore pivotal to our Queenstown Office.

The right person for this role will be well presented, have a bright and engaging personality and have excellent verbal communication skills. This is a busy, varied role and you will need to have excellent organisational skills enabling accurate scheduling and juggling of priorities with last minute requests.

The right person for this role will be well presented, have a bright and engaging personality and have excellent verbal communication skills. This is a busy, varied role and you will need to have excellent organisational skills enabling accurate scheduling and juggling of priorities with last minute requests. During busy periods, this position also provides a level of back up support to our PA’s so ideally you will have very good IT skills and be a confident typist and quick to learn new systems. Prior experience in a professional office environment would be a distinct advantage.

During busy periods, this position also provides a level of back up support to our PA’s so ideally you will have very good IT skills and be a confident typist and quick to learn new systems.

Prior experience in a professional office environment would be a distinct advantage.

Please forward your CV by Monday 30th January 2023 to : Ros Pirie, Office Manager, rpirie@mactodd.co.nz

Please forward your CV by Friday 2nd June 2023 to: Ros Pirie, Office Manager, rpirie@mactodd.co.nz

NEED NEW STAFF? ADVERTISE WHERE IT COUNTS!!

We are Queenstown’s specialist recruitment solution, meeting the needs of Jobseekers and Employers in all lines of business.

Between the Lakes Weekly and JobFix, we are your answer to better and easier staff recruitment, making sure employers and job seekers are connected.

NZ’s #1 Original Zipline company is looking for adventurous people to join our team.

Are you....

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail?

• Passionate about the environment and selling a sustainable product?

• A team player

• Enthusiastic and motivated with great interpersonal skills

• Excited to share our eco journey.

We are looking for:

Guest Services Agents

Someone who’ll brighten anyone's day with a smile and is excited and enthusiastic to connect with others and works well within a dynamic team.

Tour Guides

Our Tour Guides are responsible for delivering an unforgettable experience for all our guests.

Go

Jucy Snooze Queenstown are looking for energetic and enthusiastic people to join us in our re opening!

You don’t need experience to work with us! We offer staff benefits from staff accommodation to car rentals and Food & Beverage discounts!

Housekeeping Room Attendant (Starting from $25.00 an hour)

Chef roles (at all levels) Night Manager

Please send through your resume to marcos_diniz@jucysnooze.co.nz

We’re looking for superstars! kitchen

TEACHERS & RELIEVERS

Do you want to be part of a family that prioritises wellbeing and the collective strength of the team?

We are looking for teachers and relievers who are passionate about providing education and who share in our ideals.

If you have experience with children and would like to be part of a team that believe that a connection to ourselves, each other and our learning

environments both indoors and out, is essential for learning, this is for you!

We work as a cohesive team, but we also recognise that individual talents and interests are golden!

• Flexible hours

• Competitive remuneration

• No working on weekends!

• A great environment, full of amazing humans who want to make an impact.

Submit your applications to: recruit@gems.net.nz or visit www.gems.net.nz

ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT

We are looking for an Administration Assistant to help in our consulting engineering practice for 20 hours per week.

This is a 6 month fixed term role to cover maternity leave, working with a great team in downtown Queenstown.

The ideal candidate will have confidence in customer service and excellent communication skills, at least one year experience in a similar position is preferred.

The role will include answering phones and emails, greeting clients, word processing, filing, and other office administration tasks to keep the office running smoothly working alongside the Office Manager. If this sounds like you, please send your CV to jobs@hadleys.co.nz and tell us why you think you would be a fantastic fit for this role. Only applicants with the legal right to work in NZ will be considered.

Are you sick of working your weekends?

Working long hours and different shifts?

Would you like your Birthday off every year?

Do you like the idea of free medical insurance?

Want a job where you can enjoy some banter with your colleagues and customers?

Then REDPATHS have a job for you!

Trade Counter Role

REDPATHS Queenstown is an Electrical goods wholesaler with branches across the South Island supplying electrical equipment to the trades.

REDPATHS has a full-time role and is looking for an energetic, enthusiastic team member with great communication skills to work with our fantastic customer base and to fit in with our branch team. Applicants must have full time residency.

So, if you’re keen for a change and want to join a fun team and carve a career path within the company email or drop your CV with a covering letter to: sarah.evans@redpaths.co.nz

THE BALLARAT

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

and be a part of Republic Hospitality Group

•Tired of being bored at work?

•Want to make your Queenstown life epic!

•Looking to meet a fun and friendly crew?

Republic Hospitality Group has 10 venues in Queenstown, and we offer casual, part-time and full-time work. So whether it’s bar, restaurant or kitchen work you’re interested in, we’ve got it available at all levels

Our perks are pretty hard to beat:

• Staff pricing (did someone say great deals on food & drink?)

• Staff accommodation options

• Epic staff parties

• Great staff incentives

• A trusting culture

• Competitive pay

• Free staff meals

• Training and upskilling

• A welcoming and friendly team

Republic is a finalist in the NZ Hospitality Awards for Excellence in People & Culture for a reason. Get in touch and join us today, email HR@republicqt.co.nz and tell us what you’re looking for.

Check out our venues at www.republichospitality.co.nz

ATTENDANCE COORDINATOR

The Queenstown Central Lakes Attendance Service is looking for a full - time Attendance Coordinator. The primary purpose of this service is to support ākonga to attend and engage in learning at school.

Location: Central Otago

Responsible to: Attendance Service Manager / Whakatipu Youth Trust General Manager Hours of Work: 40 hours

We are looking for people who:

• Know their local community, iwi and schools.

• Have a deep understanding of the importance of regular school attendance for children and young people.

• Have an understanding of Māori rights and interests, a clear understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the rights and obligations established by Te Tiriti.

• Demonstrate an understanding, knowledge and experience of tikanga and Te Ao Māori.

• Have a strong understanding of the drivers of irregular and moderate absence and leading practice approaches to support engagement and attendance.

• Be skilled at working collaboratively with others to deliver shared objectives.

• Be confident in analysing and using data to provide insights and support decision making.

• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to support and/or influence a wide range of stakeholders.

• Have an ability to build trusting relationships and partnerships to achieve shared outcomes.

The successful applicant will be competent in using databases to connect with schools and monitor ākonga attendance over time. Training and support will be provided. The successful applicant will need to be police vetted.

Please email Kirsty at info@whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz for the position description and job application form.

Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 8th June 2023

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

First Table is looking for a Financial Controller to help execute our financial strategy.

For a full description on the role, scan the QR code below:

Southern Motor Group Queenstown dealership is looking for a yard assistant.

Bar Manager Jervois Steakhouse

We have a very exciting opportunity for an experienced Bar Manager to come and lead the bar team at Jervois Steakhouse team in Queenstown. We will offer you a competitive pay package, fantastic work culture with the ability to develop your career with one of the leading restaurants in Queenstown.

About the role:

• Permanent full-time position

• Minimum of 40 -45 hours per week

Key accountability areas:

To be successful in this role, the Bar Manager needs 100% focus on the tasks detailed below.

• To create, manage and consistently maintain a bar environment that exceeds customer expectations, enhances Jervois’s reputation and generates repeat business

• To manage all beverage and wine stock maintaining the appropriate quantity and quality to meet customer demand

• Manage and maintain an environment that is consistent with the group’s philosophy to exceed customer expectations

• To select, train, and mentor all members of the bar team to develop their skills and raise their performance levels to the required standard, creating a positive and well-balanced team.

• Build excellent relationships with guests and colleagues to enhance delivery and commercial success

• Strictly and consistently adhere to all Liquor Licensing and Health and Safety Regulations and ensure you are aware of and comply with the requirements at all times to minimise risk to yourself, your team, and the business

• To take responsibility for all equipment, systems and the training of those systems for the bar team to ensure the bar runs smoothly and without issue.

• To manage and be responsible for the effective rostering of the bar staff. Why work with us:

• Competitive pay package

• $700 sign-on bonus after 6 months of continuous employment

• A very supportive and skilled management team

• Paid day off on your birthday after one year of continuous service

• 20% discount across Foley sites www.foleyhospitality.co.nz

• Flexible working hours - Nights only so you have the day to sightsee or ski with the team before service

• Annual staff party and awards

• Full support of all visa applications from our HR team

Abou.t you:

• Experience in a busy venue (at least 2 years’ experience in similar style venue)

• Excellent communication and customer service skills

• Sound food and beverage knowledge including local wines and beverages,

• Hands-on and able to operate successfully in a high-pressure environment

• Punctual and reliable and work well in a team

• Friendly, energetic, and hard-working attitude

• Hold a current General Managers Certificate or be willing to obtain one

Joiners Wanted

• Must have NZ residency or valid work visa

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We have incredible opportunities in a variety of roles with shifts and hours that will suit whatever you are looking for across our 3 Queenstown properties.

F&B SUPERVISORS –COPTHORNE LAKEFRONT RECEPTIONIST

NIGHT MANAGER

NIGHT AUDITOR/NIGHT PORTER

CHEF DE PARTIE

SOUS CHEF

Retail Sales Assistant

Liquorland at Frankton is looking for a Retail Sales Assistant to join their team. Preference will be given to someone with experience in the Liquor industry.

Please email your CV to wakatipu@liquorland.co.nz

Social Media and Frontline Sales Position

Alpine Heliski is looking for a Social Media / Frontline Sales person. The successful applicant will be experienced in video editing and social media content creation. They will possess a sound knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and have previous customer service experience in the tourism industry. The position is full time during the winter season only. Starting approximately 26th June.

Email CV to: ski@alpineheliski.com

Applications close 24th June.

WE’RE HIRING BARTENDING SUPERSTARS

Full time or part time

Arrowtown’s newest cocktail & live music venue is looking for people with great customer service skills and personality.

Experience with cocktail bartending is desired but not essential. Full training can be given by our experienced team.

• Competative hourly rates.

• Drink & food discounts across multiple venues.

• Guaranteed set days off weekly.

• Become part of an awesome community!

Forward your cv to info@hydebar.co.nz or speak with a manager in person.

We look forward to hearing from you!

• Must be trade qualified in cabinetry and timber joinery

• Must have minimum 5 year’s experience in a similar position

• Must hold current full drivers licence

• This is a full-time role

• Remuneration by negotiation is relevant to experience

To apply please email your CV to: queenstown.joinery@xtra.co.nz

HEAD TRAINER

We are looking for an awesome, experienced Senior Fitness Coach to join our team and provide world class service to our members! You will be working alongside a fabulous team of fitness professionals and an amazing Community of members who are committed to their health journeys and goals!

What's in it for you?

• Be part of a fun, inspiring fitness group with the opportunity to make a real impact on Members with your unique experience

• Build your skillset outside of the coaching floor around marketing, management and operations

• Very competitive hourly rate with 30+ hours available

• F45 is continually innovating so you will have first hand experience of the latest and greatest in the Fitness industry

• Available to work regular Saturdays or Sundays

If this sounds like you, please send an email to queenstown@f45training.co.nz

FIND

THE PERFECT CANDIDATE

FOR YOUR JOB VACANCY

My Life Story

by Sue Fea

JOY VEINT

A True Blue ‘Local’

Born into a legendary Wakatipu high country station family, Joy Veint enjoyed a fabulous outdoor childhood growing up on beautiful Mount Aurum Station at Skippers. Her runholder father, ‘Mick’ Sarginson, was renowned locally for his tenacity tackling the rugged and remote sheep station from 1957 until 1969.

In addition to having four kids in that time Joy’s mother Myrna catered for the Mount Cook tour buses at Mount Aurum homestead, when they were visiting Skippers, turning out scones and pikelets daily. “It was pretty isolated and cut off in winter so Mum brought us out to Queenstown, or Wanaka to her Mount Iron farming family, from May until August. We all went – the chickens, the cat.” They did Correspondence School, attending Queenstown School in winter. “I learned to knit up there, but I was a bit of a tomboy. Not many girls wanted to do sleepovers as it was so isolated.”

Considered a luxury in such remote country then, the family had electricity, thanks to Mick’s ingenuity. He’d tow many an unfamiliar stranded visitor out of the Shotover River in his tractor and clear slips. There’d be medical emergencies or accidents at all hours needing help. Unfortunately the ‘big snow of 1968’, when “Ballarat Street was a ski lane”, put Joy’s dad off the station and they moved to Queenstown.

Mick flew light planes. Neighbouring Branches Station runholder Lin Herron and friend (Sir) Tim Wallis would often drop into the station in the chopper doing deer recovery work.

Joy and two friends felt pretty cool when Mick flew them into the high school Branches Camp, then under the strict military-style reign of teacher Ian Daniel, while the other kids rode in in cars. “We had to dig our own long drops.” ‘Busy Bees’ handcrafts were held at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, many of the stones featured there Mick brought in from Mount Aurum.

At 16 Joy started work at the Post Office Telephone Exchange, initially one of 20 manual operators. She worked there for 13 years until the new automated exchange cut over in 1988. “We went from 1000 phone numbers to nearly 2000 and everybody had to queue for toll calls.” Many residents were on party lines and while some accused the operators of listening in they didn’t. Local cops Gavin Jensen and Carl Cross would sometimes stop by on the beat on the overnight shift. They received all emergency call-outs first and unfortunately Joy had to sit helplessly on her board when the call came in that a car, carrying her cousin, had plunged off the Skippers Road hundreds of metres with fatal consequences one night. She went to Training School to learn how to manage the many wedding telegrams arriving on Saturdays. “On the Exchange’s last day we sucked in helium balloons and talked to our toll callers like Donald Duck,” she grins.

Joy flatted in the Post Office staff flats and there were three pubs in town – Wicked Willies, Eichardt’s and The Mountaineer. At 18, Joy, under the 20-year-old drinking age, was feeling quite smug one night that she’d borrowed 20-year-old Allison Cooper’s BNZ bank uniform blazer sporting her name tag. “We were all in Diggins Bar – Dad often drank there, when Sergeant Maloney walked in! I was shaking in my boots. He walked over, grabbed the badge, turned it around and said, ‘What’s your name?’ My face was bright red. He knew me, and my dad,” says Joy. “Publican Tony Hill came over and saved me saying, ‘Don’t worry, her dad was here. He must’ve just popped out’. Tony saved us all the time.”

By 20 (1979) she’d saved enough money, working nights at Skyline as well, to buy a Robins Road section for $14,000 and build her own house.

Marrying Doug Veint in 1986 they had three talented sportsmen sons, all national swimming representatives, one an international kayaker. Joy founded the Remarkables Swimming Club and served on the committee for many years. “Swimming was our whole life. It was hectic.”

She also returned to work for NZ Post for another 13 years as a mum in 2000 by which time the family had built on 22.2ha in Hunter Road, which Joy helped develop into a small successful deer farm. “Two spiker stags were going down on a new-born fawn so I wrapped it in a bag of lavender and fed it colostrum and it survived.” More pets followed and her love of animals is now reflected in a thriving little farm.

Joy’s run four half marathons, loves the mountains and outdoors, her dad’s tenacious, high country, can do spirit brushing off on his kids.

“I didn’t appreciate it back then but I love to camp up there now and our family always loves going back to Mount Aurum.”

“Home is where the heart is and I never want to be anywhere else. You stand on Mount Dewar or the Skippers Saddle and you’re up in the clouds.”

Joy still loving on the pet deer she saved in the lavender bag – Ally

Joy, right, heads off on her break while working at the old manual Telephone Exchange, pictured left, in 1984

Arts+Culture

First Thursdays June – Join Queenstown’s favourite late night art crawl

By Kelly Carmichael

First Thursdays Queenstown is a free community event that celebrates the diversity of arts and culture in Queenstown. Kick off a weekend of creative exploration on Thursday 1 June with a fun and friendly art crawl across six exhibition spaces. This month get your art fix on Thursday evening before you roll into Luma the following day.

June brings new exhibitions to Queenstown including Darren George at Milford Galleries. George is a New Zealand artist of Ngāpuhi descent whose work reflects the dichotomy of his cultural roots — a Christian faith with Māori heritage. This fertile ground produces paintings with a bright palette dominated by birds and waterfalls. Make sure to catch Darren George’s artist talk on the night at 5.30pm.

Lightworx offer a group exhibition including works by Max Patté, Robert Jahnke, and collaborators Nagy Molnár. These two Hungarian artists blend elements of glass and optical light-art with cutting-edge digital techniques, creating compositions that invite viewers on a journey through the interplay of light, movement, and reflection.

Starkwhite are exhibiting an international group show of gallery artists including Billy Apple, Fiona Pardington, Gerold Miller, Jonny Niesche, and Ani O’Neill amongst others. On display will be a newly released work from Pardington’s ongoing and highly acclaimed huia series.

Romer Gallery present large-scale landscape photographs by Stephan Romer, including a new image of Aoraki Mount Cook.

Challenged by a client to capture the rugged peaks at night the photographer obliged, and a striking image of the maunga and a night sky full of stars resulted.

Artbay have a group exhibition featuring the work of over 50 international and local artists, including Sam Foley. Foley describes his work as taking the urban landscape as a subject, specifically the man-made and its encroachment into an environment. ”….the nature of chaos vs conformity, the myriad variations between absolute light and terminal dark are my constant fascinations” he comments. Bringing together Starkwhite, Milford Galleries, Romer, Artbay, and Lightworx, First Thursdays Queenstown seeks to connect people with creativity across our town centre. Based around Earl Street and Marine Parade, First Thursdays sees six art spaces offer exhibitions, talks, and opportunities to engage with the region’s creative community during a special late-night opening from 5–7pm. Thanks to the generosity of Akarua, join us for a glass of some of this region’s finest wine as you look at the art work. Maps are available at participating galleries and on the First Thursdays Queenstown instagram – @firstthursdaysqt – and facebook page.

First Thursdays Queenstown from 5–7pm on Thursday 1 June.

Artist Talk: Darren George at 5.30 pm, Milford Galleries, 9a Earl Street.

Darren George, Garden of Eden 14-11-22, (2022)

Nagy

MolnarDisorder

Fiona Pardington, Manawarahi Małe Huia MTG Hawkes Bay, (2022)

Art for a cause

By Jess Allen

Queenstown’s Ivy Box Gallery will host a Street Art Street Party on the King’s Birthday Weekend with proceeds going towards suicide prevention and support. Christchurch street artist Morks / ‘Morepork’ will be coming down to paint several large canvas’ in his signature style across Saturday and Sunday outside the gallery. The pieces will be auctioned off with 50% going towards the cause here in Queenstown.

Sian Gillanders, Gallery Manager at The Ivy Box Gallery, hopes to raise more awareness of and encourage people to come out to watch the artist at work. In addition to the live creation of art, Jane Sutherland will be there with her fashion and jewellery, and The Italian Way will be there to keep everyone well fed. Real estate agent Brendon Quill will be running the auction at 6pm on the Sunday, too.

“I first spotted Morks’ work at the Shift: Urban Art Takeover up in Christchurch,” says Sian. “It was the most incredible exhibition at the museum on the edge of Hagley Park – they’re doing massive renovations there so they’ve taken out all the museum pieces and they allowed 78 street artists from throughout New Zealand to basically go wild. Every single nook, cranny, stairway, basement, pillar – everything was straight up graffiti throughout the building.”

“When I was there I took lots of photos of art pieces I liked and they luckily included a little bio for the artists. So, I tracked down Morks, not knowing who I was going to find or who I was going to meet. I reached out and told him that I’ve just taken over managing this gallery in Queenstown and I really like your art – could I meet you with a view to perhaps having some of your art on display? That’s basically how it started.”

Sian ended up going to meet Morks to learn more about his backstory and get a feel for him. She’s pretty passionate about contribution and had heard a lot of suicide talk going around Queenstown, so saw this as an opportunity to raise awareness and money, and Morks was on board too. Everyone Sian has spoken to about the event has been really supportive and she’s received a lot of community interest, which she’s really grateful for.

“The girls at Drift Away have gifted the accommodation for Morks, which is awesome. Everyone’s behind it and everyone’s quite keen to watch him paint, because he’s amazing. I contacted the boys from The Italian Way and they thought it was fantastic, so I’m not paying for them to be there. I’ll also have some donation buckets around the place. Jane Sutherland will have her jewellery in the gallery and she’s going to bring some of her latest special pieces, and she’s already been given a $500 donation, which is unreal,” says Sian

The Street Art Street Party will go ahead on Sunday 4 June from 10am – 6pm, with most of the action happening from 5 – 6pm at The Ivy Box Gallery at 134 Park Street. Pop down to check out the action and make a donation towards suicide prevention and support in Queenstown.

French Film Festival hits Wanaka and Arrowtown

The French Film Festival will return to Arrowtown and Wanaka this year, kicking off on 1 June for two weeks. Our region’s screenings are a relatively new addition to the festival, which is continuing to pick up cities throughout Aotearoa. Wanaka’s Ruby Cinema will show all 23 films, while Arrowtown’s Dorothy Brown will screen 19 of the festival’s films.

Festival Director Fergus Grady says that they’re excited to bring the festival to Central Otago and “give audiences the opportunity to see the films, and all of the films actually at Ruby’s in Wanaka, rather than having to go to Dunedin or anywhere else close by.” He also says that he understands how important it is to have these festivals at independent cinemas as they are cinema owners themselves.

The festival was really well received last year, especially considering it’s a slightly truncated version of the three week run in bigger cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. One of the standout films of this year is the critically acclaimed Masquerade, which is the opening night film. The drama follows a dancer whose career is shattered after a motorbike accident as he is wasting his youth in the laziness of the French Riviera.

The festival will run from 1 - 14 June in Arrowtown and Wanaka. For the full list of films, timetables and to purchase tickets head to frenchfilmfestival.co.nz