LWB_Issue_935_Online

23 Jan - 29 Jan

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE FOREVER

No 935

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

JO

BS

54 IN SI

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Find what works for you So when was the last time you looked a mate in the eye and properly asked them how they’re going? It’s not a question a lot of us ask our mates, but maybe it should be.

I went to a talk a couple of years ago by ex-NZ police negotiator Lance Burdett who explained you need to ask someone three times ‘how are you actually doing, mate?’ to get the accurate truth out of them, which, at the time, surprised me.

I work in the construction industry, which has had a very wild ride the past two-and-a-half years. The pressures on workers and business owners right across the sector have been immense. That unfortunately has been too much for a few people in our community, to the point that they could see no way out and could no longer go on.

Workers in the building game typically don’t talk about these sorts of issues, much to the detriment of the industry and some people working within it.

However, the tide seems to be slowly changing.

I’m a father of three amazing boys, all under six, which is full on, and as any parent knows has moments that test you, regularly. I’m also a residential building project manager, a job that at the best of times throws some pretty decent curve balls at you. When both work and home pressures build up, it can become quite overwhelming at times and affects people very differently.

I spoke to someone last year about stress and they asked if I did something regularly just for myself. I thought about it and to my surprise, I didn’t. I was so wrapped up with family and work life, I’d never really thought about it. So I started to play golf. Now, for an hour a day after work, before I get home to my family, I hit golf balls. It works really well. It’s an hour when I think about nothing other than how well I’m hitting the ball. My boys have taken a liking to it as well, which is great.

My employer has a great support system in place but that’s not the case for all work places. This is where organisations like Mates In Construction come in.

They are at the forefront of mental health assistance and suicide awareness in the industry. My experience prompted me to fundraise for them by doing the thing that has helped me - hitting golf balls, for 24 hours (call me mad), starting 4pm, 8 February, at the Inspire Golf Frankton driving range.

Feel free to come down, try for the hole-in-one, to win some prizes and donate to a great cause. Updates and donation options on Facebook at Queenstown 24-hour Golf Challenge Blair Pattinson

It’s been an epic weekend on two wheels as the 10-day Queenstown Bike Festival 2024 got rolling, with competitive and fun events, including the 16” pub champs. Read more and see more photos on p4. Photo: Paul Foley

Page 2

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant has been the latest nightmare for QLDC

Infrastructure pain - How did they cope in the past?

By Sue Fea

It’s an age-old problem that Queenstown councils have faced for decades, ever since the Wakatipu’s now world-renowned beauty and charm has been luring visitors from around the world.

It’s not the most celebrated of council responsibilities but ensuring there’s adequate infrastructure in place to manage this popularity and the huge population growth that goes with it, have plagued successive councils for decades.

Our current council is no exception with many issues hitting its infrastructure lately. We’ve had stormwater, wastewater and sewage leaks, contamination

We asked them how they overcame these challenges Former Mayor Warren Cooper served at the helm twice from 1968 until 1975 and again from 1995 until 2001. Faced with growing numbers of tourists in the early 1970s and insufficient ratepayers to fund the necessary infrastructure Cooper flew to Wellington to ask Finance Minister, (later Prime Minister), Rob Muldoon for support. Meanwhile, his council halted building permits on any new major commercial developments, delaying two hotels, until the government would listen.

“We told applicants that they could go ahead once the government recognised the plight of local ratepayers trying to provide water, sewerage and roading for major developments,” Cooper says. Within three months the government had gifted 100acres (40.4ha) of Crown land on Queenstown Hill – The Commonage, for housing development.

This was subdivided into what became highly sought after sections and used to fund infrastructure upgrades for decades, the last of which are only being sold now. He believes there’s been a weakening in local government nationally. “Most of the work is under supervised in this community with Central Government outsourcing some of its shovel ready projects with no pricing or tendering, on a ‘charge up basis’.” He’s not blaming council, or the government, but says councils need to maintain good standards at a competitive price and ensure works are well supervised. “In my day successful businessmen and women stood for council but they’re all so busy today they don’t want to.” He’s urging local businesspeople to ‘have a go’ at the next elections.

of the water supply, rain events ripping up the cemetery and roads. Our Lower Shotover poo ponds have become highly pongy while the council has awaited missing parts and as recently as last week leaked 420,000 litres of partially treated sewage into natural swamp adjacent to the Shotover River.

Former mayors say they all faced the challenges of funding rapid growth by ensuring sufficient functional infrastructure was in place. All were adamant that they’d never criticise the current regime with the mayor and council all doing their best.

Former Mayor Sir John Davies (1983 – 1989) says he feels sorry for Mayor Lewers who has inherited debt and doesn’t have the money to do the necessary works. “The government doesn’t have any money either,” he says. He’s more critical of some of the council development decision making and calling for more foresight. “The only people in town in five years will be the tourists and tourism operators. We have a great town, but people won’t come here with Frankton Road and our infrastructure the way it is. It’s ridiculous.

Why the council wants to build a new council building to serve tourists and tourism operators in the middle of the CBD is beyond me.”

Former council CEO Duncan Field (1997 – 2010) says the financial burden on ratepayers to upgrade infrastructure has always been an issue and it’s one being faced by other much larger councils nationwide. However, he’s never seen so many issues with our infrastructure systems all at the same time as we’ve had lately.

“People consistently underestimate the growth in this region, how popular Queenstown’s going to be. We’ve had generations of a lack of upgrades to infrastructure, which dates back 20 or 30 years. People make judgements and think this growth can’t keep happening. Who’d have thought we’d bounce back to tourism levels like this as quickly after Covid?”

The simple answer is more money and Field says this is why Mayor Glyn Lewers and predecessors have pushed for a visitor tax again and why the council is having to make property investments. “The council needs an alternative source of finance now The Commonage land has run out.”

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN Former Mayor Clive Geddes (2001 – 2010) says local governments nationally have had an “extremely wide range of responsibilities imposed upon them by Central Government” in the past 20 to 25 years.

“The costs attached to this mean those funds aren’t available for what they should be doing. For example, local governments across NZ are required to make climate change policy which is absolute nonsense.

“Local government has faced all that extra responsibility without the funding attached. We aren’t the only community going through these issues. You can’t continue to put rates up, particularly to deliver Central Government responsibilities. It then has to come from a reallocation of rates. It seems each year we’re having to manage proposed double-digit rate increases which is an unreasonable challenge on any council, particularly our high growth model.”

Geddes says the single greatest challenge our council faces is the added burden of managing one of the fastest growth rates in NZ. “Central Government needs to ensure local government can get back to its core responsibilities. It’s got to stop or there’s a huge risk in the next decade that local government will become dysfunctional with too many roles to deliver for the limited amount of money each community can afford.”

Former Mayor Vanessa van Uden (2010 – 2016) says it’s always imperative to keep council spending and budget blow outs under control. “We don’t know what’s currently going on for the council as we’re not in the tent but in times like this we’d ask, ‘Do we need to do this now or is it a ‘nice-to have’, and if we need to do it, do we need to do it to the level being proposed. Does it need to cost this much?” she says. “Sometimes you can be paying big bucks for the gold plating.”

She believes there’s been a real situation in NZ local government with costs incurred to build to the highest standards, that “may be conceptually nice to have, but with constrained funds choices need to be made”.

“Stormwater, wastewater and leaks are the stuff you have to do, and every so often plant fails, but spending in other areas can be reined in to ensure costs to the ratepayer are managed,” van Uden, who also has career experience in local government contracting, says. “It’s about fully understanding what’s causing the issues – poor design, substandard construction, operations and maintenance inadequacies, or bad luck and doing the investigation to find out. If funding’s tight spend the money on priority projects.

“We focused on review and tight control of council operational expenses, like wages and salaries and maintenance contracts, which rates predominantly fund.”

Previous Mayor Jim Boult (2016 – 2022) says he‘s never wanted to be “a voice from the past” and has every faith in the current elected members and staff to the best for the district. However, all NZ councils are facing funding shortages. “In our district the impact of unprecedented growth and poorly thought legislation has cost the council some $100m in leaky building claims - money that could’ve been spent on infrastructure,” Boult says. There’s a lot of aging in our infrastructure and a much greater population putting pressure on that. “Queenstown’s infrastructure would’ve been largely funded by a bed tax which Mayor Lewers is very supportive of. That could raise $25m a year. When we undertook the upgrade of the downtown area there were literally pipes, drains and cables everywhere under Rees Street, many not accurately charted. Over the past 50, 60 or 70 years, various councils put in pipes, drains and cables. You dug a hole and put a pipe in.” He says the current systems can be anything from relatively new to 70 or 80 years old.

Mayor Glyn Lewers Responds The Queenstown Lakes District is now copping the fall-out from an underinvestment in infrastructure for the past 30 years that began under Labour Government reforms in the mid-1980s – a nationwide local government issue, Mayor Glyn Lewers says.

Queenstown’s unique position as the country’s leading, year-round tourism destination and only a small ratepayer base to fund it puts immense pressure on the council and ratepayers, he says.

“Our resident population base is growing at 2% a year while our visitor population is far greater and growing at 4% annually,” he says. “What’s more acute for us is that we’ve seen Central Government dial back its investment into infrastructure.”

Lewers says government agencies told his council it was “too ambitious” with its visitor and population growth projections. “Growth is tracking as we predicted and has exceeded in some areas.”

The district has enough zoned land for development for 30 years. “We just don’t have the infrastructure in the ground to service it.”

The past government’s Three Waters reforms, in which the government takes over control and power of local authority infrastructure leaving councils at “arm’s length”, has created enormous strain and pressure on council staff currently working through the district’s Long Term Plan, he says. The change in government prompted a December directive to bring Three Waters back inside councils in their 10-year forecast which Lewers says has put a “big strain on our property and infrastructure team”.

“This year will be a ‘keep the lights on’ budget committed to essential works,” he says. Social, sports and recreational investment the council had budgeted for will now be delayed four or five years after a directive from the new Local Government Minister in December telling councils to reassess, “work on Three Waters and nothing else”.

“We were meant to hand over our Three Waters infrastructure in 2026 but this latest directive says that will no longer occur and instead we need to redo our plans from 2026 to 2033,” Lewers says. “It’s caused so much confusion and heartache this last six months and I’m surprised we’ve retained our staff.”

Added was the need to urgently source protozoa barriers for the water supply to protect against cryptosporidium – planned since 2019 but postponed amid the need to invest in wastewater upgrades first. “There’s been supply issues with materials and operational capability issues like trouble recruiting skilled staff and tradesmen.”

The weather event issues that caused the landslide in Upper Brecon Street, then sewage leaks in recent weeks have all added to the pressure immensely.

“You’ll see a myriad of councils around the country with double rates rises in the 20%s. That’s the outcome of Three Waters,” he says. “They’ve raised the standards we have to meet but haven’t given us the means to get to them.”

That’s left his council with no choice but to actively pursue, as did its predecessors, alternative funding, including a visitor levy which would likely charge 5% on local room rates and ring in $25m a year, or $250m over 10 years.

“About 30% of our rates covers demand that’s created by our visitors, so we need to be sourcing funds from those people, not putting more burden on ratepayers, who are already likely to face an extra 3-5% increase on top of what we were already planning.”

With Queenstown’s peak day population predicted to hit 205,000 in 2053 there are “some pretty serious things the government needs to invest in around here”, Lewers says.

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

Bike fest makes a splash

By Paul Taylor

Queenstown Bike Fest 2024 “has been a blast” so far, says organiser Emmerson Wilken.

The 10-day festival got underway on Friday with a Lake Jump at Steamer Wharf, with bikers pulling backflips and other tricks into Lake Wakatipu from a ramp, in front of a raucous crowd.

Day two was a wet one too, with plenty of rain in the morning.

“That made the dirt real good to ride up Coronet Peak for the Coro1200,” Wilkin says, “and the 16” Pub Champs was a hit at Canyon Brewing Restaurant as a finish to the day.

“Sunday morning, the early riser gravel riders enjoyed a social ride from the Shotover Historic Bridge to Arrowtown and back. We finished in style at the FMB Slopestyle in Wynyard Bike Park with everyone from young riders to the pros really putting on a show.”

The festival, organised by Meagan & Emmerson Wilken, as a fundraiser for Queenstown Mountain Bike Club, features more than 30 events for everyone from pros to groms, celebrating the best of biking in Queenstown.

“The rest of the week is still filled with fun, see our website for schedule details,” Wilkin says. “You can still register online for events or decide on the day and we’ll sign you up!”

Visit www.queenstownbikefestival.co.nz

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

NEWS

Page 6

IN BRIEF

Busy summer Queenstown Airport recorded 228,000 passenger movements over the festive period. The busiest days, in the four weeks from 18 December to 14 January, were 23 December, 28 December, 2 January and 7 January, when there were more than 9,000 passenger movements. That’s slightly down on last summer, when there were 230k passenger movements (arrivals and departures). Over the whole of 2023, there were 2.41 million passenger movements and 18,031 scheduled aircraft movements. That’s almost bang on the same as 2019, pre-Covid. With the 2032 airport masterplan now complete, airport staff are now working on its detailed planning, procurement, and delivery, with a Terminal Development Plan, an Airfield Development Plan and a Landside Development Plan the next key pieces of work. In the short term, the most visible project at the airport at the moment is the creation of an al fresco dining area in front of the terminal, which can be enclosed for the winter season.

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There were five deaths of people with Covid-19 and 554 cases reported in the Southern region in the second week of January, according to the latest Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora figures available before the Lakes Weekly Bulletin went to press. In the same week, there were 38 deaths across the country of people who had tested positive for Covid-19 (in the previous 28 days) and 8,040 cases reported, 4,992 of them reinfections. There are 324 people in hospital with Covid-19 in New Zealand, six of them in ICU. “As Covid-19 continues to circulate in the community, everyone still needs to take precautions… to protect themselves and others,” a Te Whatu Ora spokesperson says.

Te Whatu Ora is advising people to get an additional Covid-19 booster if they are eligible and at high-risk, stay away from vulnerable friends and family if unwell, wear a face mask in closed, crowded, or confined spaces, and stay home if feeling sick, and test for Covid-19. The total number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 in NZ since the pandemic began is 3,645. That includes 340 people in Southern.

Carp alert Freshwater anglers are being asked to keep an eye out for pest species after a grass carp was caught in an Otago lake. It is believed the carp is one of 100 released to artificial ornamental ponds near Queenstown in February 2023.

The release was approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries but the fish looks to have escaped during spring floods and swum down river into Lake Dunstan. Central Otago operations manager David Priest says it is important for any pest fish species to be reported to Fish and Game to protect valuable fisheries. “We appreciate the angler notifying us of this unexpected catch.

Any further sightings of grass carp in Otago waterways should be reported.

The last thing we want is a disease entering highly valued fisheries.” Grass carp could not readily breed in New Zealand outside of captivity so there was no real risk of establishing a self-sustaining population in the wild. They are a herbivorous fish native to Asia, that weigh 10kg and commonly grow more than half a metre in length. Grass carp are artificially bred and grown on fish farms licensed by the Ministry for Primary Industries and have been used in parts of the country to control aquatic weed growth. But a permit was required to move grass carp and they had to be contained in the water body where they were released.

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

CBD

by Miranda Spary Miranda Spary is a tired, old, has been columnist that we feel sorry for. She used to write a weekly book column in the old Queenstown Times which was read more for the local gossip in it than the book part.

She is quite lazy and very grateful if readers send in ideas about what’s been happening locally on miranda@queenstown.co.nz

At this time of the year, everyone seems to be talking about going skiing in the northern hemisphere - the photos of the snow up to the top of doors makes compelling viewing but I’m so happy with my still green grass (thanks so much to whoever organises a nice dump of rain as soon as the water restriction signs go up!) and am almost getting sick of having to cut my cornflowers and sweet peas every day. Snow is not on my agenda at all right now.

We had a big clean out in our very messy garden shed and I discovered I had literally hundreds of empty plastic pots hidden away all over the place. I was almost going to use a lot of fuel to drive over to Wanaka Wastebusters when noone replied to my FB post offering free pots (why can’t we have our own Wastebusters here? SUCH a brilliant set up). Luckily I got a message saying that you can take them to Mitre 10. My vast collection wouldn’t even fit in the box there so I had to leave them on a trolley outside. They’re also meant to be washed but given what a huge amount of money I spend in that shop, I didn’t feel too guilty.

Have you heard about DISHRUPT? It’s yet another marvellous Sustainable Queenstown project. They’ve got a big collection of plates and cutlery etc that you can use for events instead of buying plastic throwaway stuff. Miles cheaper and much less hassle and waste. They were at the A and P show and all the food trucks were using them. When I’ve had various fundraising events here, I’ve often gone to the Salvation Army or the Cancer Shop and bought all their cups and plates, washed them and used them and washed them again and taken them back. It’s way cheaper than hiring but DISHRUPT is a lot more convenient!

We’ve got weddings galore at the moment and the next two weekends are going to be huge with all our five children here in New Zealand AND their other halves AND their children AND all the lovely friends they’ve made here and everywhere else - I hope the Wakatipu can cope with the enormous invasion. So many of them will be first timers to our beautiful part of the world and I always get a goofy smile watching them fall in love with it. The first time I got married, 22 friends from Europe came here - only two had been here before - they’ve all come back time and time again and I won’t be a bit surprised if the same thing happens to the mob coming for these ones - it’s very addictive!

Thanks so much for all the feedback about health and safety nonsense - let’s go back to being self-reliant and intelligent instead of being treated like halfwits.

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Page 8

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

LAKES WEEKLY POLL LWB regularly polls locals on issues affecting our region.

This week’s responses are below.

Did you spend the holidays in Queenstown?

Overseas Yes

Yes, we stayed at home - 57% We travelled domestically - 30% We travelled overseas for the holiday - 13%

Domestically

Did you set any New Year's resolutions?

Yes

Absolutely – going strong - 29% Absolutely and already broken them - 3% Broken

No

Nope, not for me - 68%

Have you or anyone in your household had Covid in the last month?

Unsure

Me Household

Yes, me personally - 8% Yes, someone in the household - 6% No - 81% Unsure - 5%

No

Did you attend the Lake Hayes A&P Show on Saturday?

Yes

Yes - 13% No - 87% No

Are you expecting interest rates to change this year?

Unsure

Go up

Yes, I believe that will go up - 24% Yes, I believe that will go down - 33%

Go down

Don’t know | Unsure - 43%

There were 87 respondents this week.

If you would like to take part: you can sign up on the LWB Facebook page.

Page 9

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

Arts+Culture Queenstown's food truck festivals

by Jess Allen

At each event, they try to rotate the food on offer, with a select few faces showing up every week due to their location and availability. On Thursdays they have around 10 trucks with the goal of offering good eats from all around the world including Brazilian, Indian, Argentinian, and Belgium. In addition to local trucks, Racca has seen more and more trucks coming from around Central Otago to bring their goods to us. She has people coming from Cromwell and as far as Winton, too. Each event offers more than just food, with live music and a great atmosphere, too.

“We have live music at all of the festivals. Every festival we change the musicians, we work with local musicians as well. We have some duos and we have some solos, and on Thursdays we have the bar open, so people can enjoy local beers on the grass here. We’re going to wrap up this summer season in February, but we’re going to have some additions for winter. After February, we’ll probably open again in June,” Racca says.

The Food Truck Festival will take place every Thursday from 4pm at the Red Barn on Hawthorne Drive and the last Sunday of each month from 12-5pm at Country Lane – the next instalment will be this Sunday, 28 January. The summer series will wrap up at the end of September, but they’ll be plenty more events throughout the year and again next summer. You can stay up to date and find out how to get involved at facebook.com/Qtfoodtruckfestival

It’s shaping up to be a good season for foodies with a number of food truck events popping up around Queenstown. An array of food trucks take over the picturesque Red Barn each Thursday evening, and Country Lane from noon on the last Sunday of every month during summer. Sweet and savoury options are available as well as live music – the events have a family-friendly atmosphere.

Martina Racca and her partner Navtej Singh are the masterminds behind the events and got the ball rolling back in August of 2023. As owners of the El Cordobés food truck, they felt there was a gap in the market when it came to consistency for food trucks in the region – their business is reliant on being able to find a spot to trade, which isn’t always easy.

“We knew that one of the common problems between food trucks was to find where to trade – where’s a place that we can trade weekly?” Racca says. “That’s the main reason that food trucks close after a few years, because you need regular trade just to make an income or a living from it. My partner and I both have experience in hospitality and management, and we decided to start this food truck festival.”

Racca is originally from Argentina, a place that, she explains, hosts many different festivals that are always full of friends and family. It’s something she missed from home, and wanted to introduce it down under, giving people the opportunity to unwind with loved ones and discover good food and drinks. Starting in Country Lane initially, they were inundated with support and have grown from there.

“It’s been great – the first event we did in August was just advertised on Facebook and Instagram, and people were so excited to have something different. I think the Queenstown community is always so supportive, especially with small businesses and people wanting to get something new. At the first event, we had over 3,000 people just coming to support and see what’s going on. The feedback we got was really good and we’re always open to feedback and to anything we could do better.

“In November, Remarkables Park offered us the opportunity to take care of the Twilight Market, which is a market that they’ve been running every Thursday for the past three or four years. So that’s when we made the Food Truck Festival Twilight Edition. So we have the two festivals at the moment."

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LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

COMMUNITY NOTES Queenstown Trails Network Queenstown is quickly becoming a world-renowned biking destination with rides to suit every ability and type of rider, from the family-friendly trails to backcountry singletrack epics.

With hundreds of kilometres of trails throughout the Whakatipu Basin, and the interconnected nature of the Queenstown Trails Network means you can link up several trails, to make your biking adventure as leisurely or a long as your heart desires.

The expanding network also allows you to stitch together sections of the Queenstown Trail and thanks to the various trails trusts around the country, there is ever-increasing regional interconnectedness: you will soon be able to get from Queenstown to Dunedin (and further afield), entirely by bike.

The Future The Queenstown Trails Network is set to welcome the next stage of the network in early 2024 as the Wharehuanui Trail linking Arrowtown to Arthurs Point opens. This new grade 2 trail, linking communities on the northern side of the basin, and providing off-road access to the coronet peak MTB trails, has been beautifully constructed to make the most of the terrain and views.

Wharehuanui Trail and Beyond Time: 2-3hours Level: Grade 2 (Easy) Distance: 17.6km Starting in Arthurs Point (near Cargo at Gantleys) grab a coffee before heading east towards Coronet Peak. The trail runs parallel to the road through rolling farmland, before crossing Malaghans Road, and climbing gently into the foothills of Coronet Peak. The trail winds around the base of Coronet Peak, affording beautiful views back across the basin to the Remarkables Range. Catch glimpses of Walter Peak to the west and the Crown Range and Cardona to the east, this is one of the best vantage points to appreciate the mountains and the expanse of the glacier-carved basin.

Wharehuanui Trail under construction - boardwalk over wetland, trail due to open early 2024 Photo: Willy (QT Archive)

Downhill mountain biking tracks, Carry On and Hot Rod finish at the Wharehuanui Trail, and there are options to take the Dan O’Connell Climb up to the Coronet Peak Trails, or to catch a shuttle up the mountain for some down-hill mtb action.

The trail crosses back over Malaghans Road and follows Mill Creek into Millbrook. The Mill Creek restoration being undertaken by the Mana Tahuna Trust is all about restoring the water quality in Lakes Hayes, by removing invasive species and planting thousands of native plants bordering the main feeder stream. As these plantings become established in the coming years, Mill Creek will become a tranquil oasis and restored habitat for native species and will be a stunning green corridor for trail users to enjoy.

The Wharehuanui Trail joins the Countryside Trail at Millbrook, follow the signposts to Arrowtown or continue along the Country Side Trail for options to visit Lake Hayes and to loop back to Frankton.

The Wharehuanui Trail is predicted to open in early 2024, with the new Shotover Gorge Trail following hot on it’s heels by the end of 2024 (including a suspension bridge over the Shotover River and a 100m long historic tunnel).

Keep an eye on the Queenstown Trails social media channels and website for updates and further information.

Queenstown Trails is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation, and relies on the support of trail users and trail lovers to help fund the work we do.

If everyone who uses the trails regularly, donates as little as $30/year, the future of the trails will be safe guarded. Help us achieve our vision and support Queenstown Trails by becoming an official Trail Lover.

Inspection of the historic Shotover Tunnel. Restoration of the tunnel will begin in 2024, with the tunnel being repurposed as a feature of the new Shotover Gorge Trail

For more information about Queenstown Trails, the trail network and becoming a Trail Lover, please visit: www.queenstowntrail.org.nz

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Page 11

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

Topp Twins lead the lineup for Wānaka A&P Show

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Kiwi icons the Topp Twins have been confirmed as the lead entertainment act for this year’s anticipated Wānaka A&P Show.

The beloved duo will take the stage at the Wānaka A&P Showgrounds on March 8-9, 2024, for the annual Show, one of New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral events, attracting more than 44,000 people.

They will join a jam-packed schedule of entertainment acts from other renowned Kiwi performers including Adam McGrath from the well-established country-rock band The Eastern, singer Barry Saunders and Lieutenant Lou, a lively clown police officer.

Wānaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker says the Wānaka A&P Show team is delighted to welcome the Topp Twins back to perform at the Show once again. Their last appearance was in 2017.

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“You can’t go past the Topp Twins,” she says. “They are two of the best performers in New Zealand and have been for 40 years. We are very excited to be hosting them at the Wānaka A&P Show once again. They have been a few times now and always draw the crowds for their fun music and hilarious banter – it will be fantastic to see Lynda, Jools and their alter-egos (Camp Mother/Camp Leader and Ken/Ken) live on stage.”

The Topp Twins – Dame Jools Topp and Dame Lynda Topp – say they are elated to be returning to the Wānaka A&P Show.

“We cannot wait to mingle with the locals, catch up with all the competitors and taste the range of delights on offer,” Lynda says. “Right in the heart of town overlooking the lake and the mountains, the Wānaka A&P show has to be one of the prettiest shows to visit.”

The traditional favourites of the equestrian and livestock events, plus wood chopping and sheep shearing will return in 2024.

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(Left to right) The Topp Twins Dame Lynda Topp and Dame Jools Topp.

Photo: Sally Tagg

“There will be plenty of activities to keep the children entertained, too, with the new Farmlands Farmyard area, as well as the classic carnival rides,” Stalker adds.

The Show includes traditional features such as equestrian and livestock events, home industry displays, wool classing, wood chopping, shearing and 500-plus trade stalls from around the country. Novelty activities include the famous Jack Russell Race and old-fashioned sheaf tossing.

“Seeing the rural and urban communities come together at the Wānaka A&P Show is always a highlight of the year,” Stalker says. “The Show is now one of the largest agricultural and pastoral events in the country and it just keeps getting bigger and better.”

Gates to the 87th Wānaka A&P Show open 8.30am-5pm on Friday, 8 March, and Saturday, 9 March. Tickets are $22.50 per adult or $40 per adult and $15 per youth (13-17 years) for two days. Children aged 12 and under are free.

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GOINGS ON ABOUT

Twilight Hockey Wakatipu Hockey Club Twilight Hockey starts up again soon with registrations for the season open now. The competition season is on Tuesdays from 23 January to 2 April between 6pm and 9pm. It’s a mixed teams, half court hockey format played with 20 minute halves!

Interested? Get a team together and register online at qldc.govt.nz/hockey

EVENTS - MUSIC - ART THEATRE - AT THE GALLERIES

ICE HOCKEY 5th Annual Battle for The Queenstown Cup The Queenstown Cup will feature an A and B division.

Teams will be battling to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winners, the Traveling Goons [B Grade Champs] and A grade teams will look to dethrone Team Enigma. Teams from Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, and the rest of Central Otago will be battling it out. Each team is guaranteed five games, followed by a BBQ at the Garden Bar, where the team and individual prizes will be awarded. Games are free to watch, café, bar and Garden Bar will be open throughout.

When: Thursday 25 January to Sunday, January 28 Where: Queenstown Ice Arena, Queenstown Gardens

COMMUNITY Queenstown Windsurf and Kitesurf Club Wednesdays are Windsurf Wednesdays @the Frankton club. The club invites anyone keen on windsurfing to bring all your toys and some beers and hang out with other like-minded surfers. The season runs from January through to early March. Some rentals and lessons may be available, and the sailing is weather dependent so it may to check first. Give Sue a call on 0276408596.

When: Wednesday nights January-March between 4pm and 8ish Where: Frankton Beach

Whakatipu Reforestation Trust - Nursery Volunteer Sessions The nursery reopened for volunteering from Wednesday, 17 January. Community Nursery Volunteers help the trust grow native plants but also has many other benefits including learning about NZ native plants in a hands-on, supportive environment and playing an active role in helping to restore the biodiversity of the Whakatipu Basin. No gardening experience is required, and morning tea is provided. If you have any questions or need more details, feel free to email Karen on volunteer@wrtqt.org.nz When: Every Wednesday morning from 17 January, 9am – noon, drop in style Where: Jean Malpas Community Nursery, Jardine Park, Kelvin Heights

Remarkable Market

Garden + Galleries Calling all garden and art lovers! Come and explore some of the Whakatipu Basin’s best gardens and art galleries, all in support of our local Plunket. Garden + Galleries has for the past 10 years been the main fundraiser for Wakatipu Plunket and this year presented by the Arrowtown Creative Arts Society. Gardens + Galleries offers a beautiful cross-section of gardens, from small and compact to large park-like gardens, while the artists’ trails in the Whakatipu Basin represent a diverse group of local painters and sculptors. There are more than a dozen art and garden related experiences to choose from. Tickets are available online now at teatamira.nz/events/gardens-galleries When: Friday, 9 February & Saturday 10 February from 10am - 4pm Where: Gardens and Galleries across the Whakatipu Basin

EVENTS Ruby Island Swim The Ruby Swim 2024 is not just about the how fast you can swim. The Ruby Island swim is an icon on the Wānaka landscape and is featured in thousands of photos and in the lore of Wānaka. To swim around it is the most brilliant experience as an open water swimmer. Race it just to experience it. There are 10km, 5km, 3.8km, 2. 5km, 1.2km, 600m & 200m swims for everyone from open water swimmers to the kids. There is no On The Day registration with registration online at swimrubyisland.co.nz and closes Thursday, 25 January at 4pm.

When: Saturday, 27 January from 7am Where: Waterfall Creek, Mr. Aspiring Road, Wānaka

Teddy Bears Picnic Stand aside Santa, the number one day on any toddler’s calendar is fast approaching! The Summerdaze Teddy Bears Picnic is plenty of fun for kids of all ages, with everything from musicians and popcorn machines to fairies, face painting and bouncy castles. Again, this year there is a picnic in both Queenstown and Wanaka.

It’s free to attend. Bring your favourite Teddy Bear, pack a picnic and join the fun. Koha donations to Plunket.

When: Saturday, 27 January, 11am - 2pm Where: Queenstown Events Centre, Wānaka When: Sunday, 28 January, 11am - 2pm Where: Wānaka Dinosaur Park

Rugby: Highlanders v Moana Pasifika

If you are a visitor or a long term local, you will always find some interesting at Remarkables Market. With wonderful food, coffee and juice options, great music, delicious produce, unique arts and crafts there really is no better way to start your summer Saturday! There is easy access and free parking as well as picnic tables and picnic rugs. Set in stunning landscaped grounds, a playground and sandpit keep the younger ones entertained while live music creates a great atmosphere.

The Highlanders, in their first preseason game of 2024 are headed back to Queenstown. With a kick off at 6pm on a Friday it’s a terrific evening of family entertainment. The playbook last year was a recipe for success for the Highlanders so this year they are back and bringing Moana Pasifika along. All children (under the age of 13) are free, secondary school students are $10 and adult tickets are $3 ($20 early bird). Start your weekend with some Friday evening footy!

When: Saturdays from 9am - 2pm Where: Corner Red Oaks and Hawthorne Drive Remarkables Park

When: Friday, 2 February, 6pm Where: Queenstown Event Centre (Field 2)

More events available at WHAT’S ON on the Queenstown App Download the Queenstown App today

My Life Story

by Sue Fea

JOCK JEFFERY

Jock’s intrepid journeys He grew up tough as a Crown Terrace farm boy, destined for a life on the edge as an extreme adventurer - a journey that’s seen Jock Jeffery conquer undiscovered peaks from Pakistan to Peru, and sled through outer Greenland.

The son of legendary Queenstown pilot and farmer Jim Jeffery, who’d sailed the world several times at 17, it was inevitable that Jock – still sailing his father’s yacht 44 years later, would follow suit.

He and his sisters would trudge home up the Zig Zag from the school bus stop at Arrow Junction. A tennis player, Jock would bike the 6kms into Arrowtown to play tennis, then bike the steep incline home.

Even in record snowfalls the Jeffery kids made it to school on the back of Dad’s tractor, while the ‘town kids’ got to stay home. “Dad was big on education,” he grins. It was a gravel road. “There were no four-wheel drives, lots of chain fitting and getting stuck. It made us more resilient.”

As a 14-year-old he’d walk from Crown Terrace to the Aero Club in Frankton, where his dad was instructing, just to play pool.

Badminton, squash, and rugby were also big with Jock winning Central Otago badminton titles.

After a year’s training for a surveying cadetship in Invercargill, Jock returned to work on the farm and then went on his OE to communist Russia (Soviet Union), where the normally law-abiding citizen ended up in jail six times. “I spent a lot of time in jail. You didn’t have to do anything. You could be taking a photo in the supermarket and they’d grab you, lock you up and destroy the film, then let you go.”

He and his mates were driving from Helsinki to Leningrad when he was detained by armed guards. Officials hadn’t initialed his visa. “They were waving their guns and telling me I had to go (back to Helsinki) while my mates went through.”

On the train back to Leningrad he was detained by immigration officials who discovered a little bag of white powder in his pack. “I’m sitting on one side of the trestle table with three armed officials glaring at me, the powder in the middle. They wet a finger and dipped it in. I knew what they were thinking, so I was laughing. They blew a few bubbles. It was washing powder.”

After another year on the farm, Jock headed to Perth where he launched his own trucking business. “I was very young, and it was quite daunting. I had a lot of debt, so I had to make it work.”

Jock doing his thing in Mongolia

He built that up, selling it before returning home where jobs were few. Jock became night janitor at YHA before quickly working his way up to assistant operations and Visitor Centre manager at Real Journeys.

In his 30s, Jock became hooked on mountaineering while in the US, joining other climbers around the world for epic expeditions off the beaten track.

The internet was a new phenomenon, and they advertised for others to join them in the likes of The Karakoram, naming newly conquered peaks, including three 1828m (6000ft) peaks in Pakistan. Many were later documented in mountaineering journals.

“We’d go where others didn’t want to go, climbing in Bolivia, Peru and Tajikistan, Iran and India,” says Jock. The Pakistani peak – their first, was named Uddin Zom after the only guy who lived in the desolate valley and sold them goats which they lived off for up to six weeks. On one occasion they were dropped at the Afghan / Tajikistan border. “We didn’t see a person, shrub, bird for 31 days but climbed a beautiful mountain, never climbed before – Zartosh.” Dust storms in the valley pushed temperatures to 35degC and they endured minus20C up the mountain.

Jock’s been involved in some daring rescues, helping save a Frenchman who’d fallen 762m (2500ft) off a mountain in Peru, which took several days. “By the time we got up to him at 5334m (17,500ft) he was truly frozen, bleeding, with severe head and back injuries.”

A diabetic, Jock once fell into a 30.4m (100-foot) deep crevasse while hypoglycemic, dangling and spinning, his coils and ropes tight around his chest, ice picks flailing around. “All I could think about was what to do with my sunglasses that had come off.” He ‘stemmed’ his way out with help from his awaiting partner.

He’s ski mountaineered and sledged across the likes of Mongolia, Siberia and Greenland and a few weeks ago headed for another fix ski touring in Kyrgyzstan.

Multisport competitions keep him fit for climbing and Jock’s coached Arrowtown Rugby Club juniors and the Wakatipu High U14s, as well as serving on the Wakatipu Yacht Club Committee, and racing many Donald Hay races and some Nolex 25 Southland championships.

Jock during drenching on the farm on Crown Terrace – 1981

“I don’t want to get to my grave and think I’ve done nothing with my life.”

No chance.

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN

Page 16 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE DIVINE REALIGNMENT ENERGY HEALING | REIKI HEALING | BI OPTRON LIGHT COLOUR HEALING, to rebalance and re energise PHONE PAULA FOR AN APPOINTMENT - 0211171389 www.naturalhealingpaulapetersen.com fbnaturalhealingpaulapetersen CHEAP OFFICE SPACE: Arthurs Point. Various offices are available for rent. Spaces for 1-20 people. Great parking, net & people. 270sqm is available for large group events, group classes, or storage.

Call Adam at 027 420 8378 for a tour!

NUESTRA VOZ

Por Daniela Díaz Soto ddiazsoto@gmail.com

McGazza Fest: el mega bike festival de Queenstown Como he contado en otras ocasiones, fue acá en Queenstown que aprendí a hacer descenso en bicicleta gracias a la ayuda de amigos que conocí y que ya vivían desde niños la adrenalina de lanzarse cerro abajo, hacer trucos, saltar y, por qué no decirlo, arriesgar su integridad física por hacer alguna locura.

Nunca conocí tanta gente adicta a la bicicleta como acá, y claro, sin ser parte de esa comunidad yo no tenía idea que Queenstown es conocido mundialmente por tener los mejores y más grandes parques públicos para practicar este deporte extremo.

Mi amigo Ben O’Connor es uno de esos apasionados que se desvive por la bicicleta. Él es de Reino unido y decidió mudarse a esta ciudad de Nueva Zelanda sólo por eso. He visto videos de él saltando en BMX, y nos hemos tirado cerro abajo mientras observo su enorme destreza y un dominio que dudo yo alcance a lograr.

Así como él, muchos de estos increíbles deportistas se pueden ver en los distintos parques. Pero es una vez al año cuando todos se reúnen en el Queenstown Bike Festival, un megaevento que ya comenzó el 19 de enero y culmina con el reconocido McGazza Fest del 26 al 28 de enero.

El McGazza Fest es un fin de semana en memoria del legendario Kelly McGarry, un freeride mountain biker neozelandés, conocido por hacer uno de los mejores trucos en el evento Redbull Rampage en 2013. El video de su truco tiene más de 200 millones de visitas en Youtube, y en el bar Atlas puedes ver fotos, su casco y la bicicleta que usaba, como parte de la decoración del lugar. Lamentablemente, falleció a los 33 años de un ataque al corazón en el track Fernhill Loop en 2016.

David Perez Nanni tuvo la suerte de conocerlo e incluso andar muchas veces con él. Sin duda un sueño para este argentino que llegó a Queenstown hace 12 años. “Me vine para andar en bici. Acá para la bici es lo mejor y es todo gratis. La comunidad está increíble, todos se ayudan”, dice.

David empezó esta pasión por la bicicleta a los 10 años y mudarse a Queenstown cambió su vida. “Todos los ‘pro’ del mundo vienen acá a andar, entonces vives esa experiencia de andar con todos ellos, en un ambiente distendido, siendo uno más”.

Para él, “el McGazza Fest es una fiesta. Para mí es el mejor día del año y entreno un montón para andar relajado y divertirme ese día”.

Uno de los días más destacados del evento es el Dream Jam el sábado 27, en Wynyard Bike Park en Fernill, donde podrás ver las más increíbles acrobacias en este lugar que cuenta con los saltos más grandes del mundo conocidos en un parque público.

Revisa todo el programa de este adrenalínico festival completamente gratuito en queenstownbikefestival.co.nz ¡Nos vemos en McGazza Fest!

An English version of NUESTRA VOZ is available on lwb.co.nz

XS STORAGE Secure self storage units – various sizes available Phone: 0800 297 786 | www.xsstorage.co.nz

Lost & Found FOUND Unclaimed items sitting at the Police Station, at 11 Camp Street, this week include: • JORDAN AITKIN WALLET • FREDDIE RAWLING CARDHOLDER • STIRLING SCOTT WHITE IPHONE • DELPRAT WAHUNE IPHONE IN GREY CASE • IPHONE WITH CLOWN FISH ON SCREEN AND ‘P’ on clear case • BLACK NIXON WATCH WITH CRACKED FACE • BLACK JANSPORT DAY PACK WITH DENIM SHORTS and the name BILLY CAMPBELL inside, found on the Tiki Trail.

• ROUND SILVER FLOWER EARRING ON A SHELL background KEYS FOUND IN LOMOND CRES. MAYBE 6-9MONTHS ago!

Two keys on a tag labelled ‘MASTER’. One key is gold colour.

Give me a call-0210464303. ur welcome.

LOST I LOST MY WADING BELT WITH MY epirb attached on the road between McBride Street and the Kelvin Peninsular boat ramp, approximately 1:30 pm, Tuesday 16th January. It also contained a wading stick, a lederman multitool along with a fish handling glove. An epirb is an emergency locator beacon, traceable through the police or Maritime New Zealand. It is a life saving device and specific to the registered owner. Don Wallace +64274443263

Accommodation ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE AT CORONET PEAK ROCKY GULLY hut. Accommodation is available immediately for one rental for period until the end of May. Fully furnished with 2 bunk rooms with double beds. $600 per week. Suit responsible couple or two friends. Call or message Tom 0274 399388 for further details.

Community NEW TO THE AREA OR GOT MORE time on your hands & looking to give back to your community? Altrusa International Qtwn is looking for volunteers just like you to join our women’s charitable & service org. supporting our local community. Want to know more? Email: president.queenstown@altrusa.org.nz or message us on Facebook.com/AltrusaQueenstown 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.

SPCA OP SHOP – 51 GORGE RD. Open Monday – Saturday 9am- 5pm. Sunday 10am-4pm. Pre-loved goods and clothing at great prices. Help support the ongoing work done by the SPCA. Accepting donations now. (Please NO furniture or Children’s clothing.) Call into store now to enquire about Volunteering. Your old goods, or your time, could help save a life. ] WSCA – ROOMS FOR HIRE - SPACIOUS, sunny rooms are available for hire to Queenstown Community Groups. The rooms hold up to 90 people, with seated dining for 40. Located on the 1st floor of Malaghan House, 10 Memorial Street, Queenstown with lift access. There are kitchen facilities, toilets, Wi-Fi, media equipment for projection onto large screen plus large screen TV. Contact us on 03 4429214 or info@wsca.org.nz for more details.

WHY DOES LAKES WEEKLY LINE ADS WORK? Because your market is searching for your ad – make it work for you. Book online at www.lwb.co.nz or by email to enquiries@qmg.co.nz 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 FREE ANTENATAL PROGRAMME. THREE-WEEK PROGRAMME RUN BY Central Lakes Family Services commences 21st February from 6pm-8pm. Programme covers Parenting anxiety, Bonding and attachment, self-care and mental awareness, support and solutions. Dads and partners welcome. Venue St Johns Rooms, Douglas Street Frankton. Bookings essential call Lisa on 02781667338

Trades & Services EASY ADMIN - INVITING LOCAL BUSINESS, WE do: PAYROLL, XERO/MYOB, GST, CASHFLOW, AR&AP, INVOICING. Office Management & Consultancy. hello@easyadmin.co.nz | 0210 823 7381 LOCAL PAINTER WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE for all your Interior & Exterior projects. Phone Simon on 021 716485 WHAKATIPU BEEKEEPERS SUPPORTING LOCAL BEEKEEPERS WITH SHARING knowledge, mentoring and maintaining best ractice. Most importantly a group of likeminded individuals who love bees. Meeting regularly, for more info or to join us whakatipubeekeepers@gmail.com DOG WALKER AVAILABLE. FUN, FULFILLING AND SAFE adventures | small groups or solo | pick up & drop off services | competitive rates & membership options | other doggy services available, please enquire | 0211345386 howdy@ romeoandrose.com WINDSURF WEDNESDAYS @ FRANKTON BEACH. 4PM TIL late.

Organised by the local club to encourage and support beginner/ intermediate windsurfers. Possibly some lessons/rentals available for newcomers. Weather dependent. More info & bookings Sue 0276408596 RUBBISH AT REMEMBERING? SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY bin day reminders and public holiday alerts via text or email at www. reminders.saveourstuff.co.nz

Everything Else FRANKTON WINDSURF WEDNESDAYS. 4-LATE. LOCAL CLUB SESSIONS for Beginners/intermediates. Some lessons/rentals may be available. Every wed til end March (weather dependent).

More info & bookings. Sue 0276408596 STANDARDISED RECYCLING IS COMING! ON 1 FEBRUARY, kerbside recycling will be the same all around the country. For locals, that means more items can be accepted in your yellow bin.

Recycle clean plastic bottles, trays and containers marked 1, 2, and 5 in your yellow mixed recycling bin, along with clean cans, cardboard and paper. There’s no change to your glass recycling - only glass bottles and jars go in your blue glass bin. To find out more go to www.qldc.govt.nz SELF-TAPE AUDITION WORKSHOP Calling all Actors, Models & Talent.

Let’s teach you how to nail these. For beginners & those already with an agent. Saturday 10 February, spaces limited to 15 in each workshop, register at bunkerstreetstudios.co.nz

TRAIN YOURBRAIN

23 January 2024 - 29 January 2024

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN | 23 January 2024 - 29 January 2024

Ph: 03 409 2800 enquiries@qmg.co.nz jobfix.co.nz

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LWB QUIZ 1.

What is the holy table in a church called?

2.

What word can mean both a hanging ornament and a communications device?

3.

What name is given to a male sheep?

4.

The word “sinister” derives from the Latin for which side, left or right?

5.

Which Spanish painter had a “blue period” from 1901 to 1904?

6.

What was the name of King Arthur’s magic sword?

7.

Which barbarian was played on film by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982?

8.

In which Brazilian city is Sugar Loaf Mountain?

9.

Kelp is what type of plant?

10. In the game of chess, which is the most powerful piece?

11. Which term describes material that can be decomposed by natural means?

12. Who married Henry VII? 13. What is the capital of New Mexico?

14. In The Lord of the Rings films, who played Legolas?

15. What is five cubed?

16. From which country do borzoi dogs originate?

17. Hercules was said to have slain which many-headed monster?

18. Which herb is often associated with remembrance?

19. A large Roman building such as St Peter’s in Rome is given what name?

20. Which US series featured the forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan?

21. What is the second brightest object in the night sky?

22. The Masai Mara wildlife reserve is in which country?

23. In which garden feature might you find blanket weed?

24. How many ounces are there in a pound?

25. In which sequence, named after an Italian mathematician, do the numbers equate to the sum of the previous two numbers?

SOUS CHEF

Nellies Restaurant & Bar Full Time

Want to work in a busy local restaurant in Mosgiel 15 minutes from Dunedin City? Join a team that enjoys working together! We are a popular well established restaurant serving a la carte food 7 days a week, lunch and dinner.

• Assist our head chef focusing on exceptional food and presentation • Multitask under pressure • Opportunities for growth • Supportive culture • Maintain a well organised environment • Competitive hourly rate • Consistent roster • Opportunity to use your creative flare • Team management • Experience in food costing and ordering If you are passionate about food, motivated and energetic, enjoy being part of a team apply now.

Email your CV to info@hoteltaieri.co.nz

CAPTION COMPETITION Winner of the last Caption Competition is Jamie Harris Congratulations you won 1x Double Pizza Voucher from Hell Pizza. Collect your voucher from the LWB office.

to ad Way The Bre en..

Heav

FIND THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR YOUR JOB VACANCY

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Altar | 2. Mobile | 3. Ram | 4. Left | 5. Pablo Picasso | 6. Excalibur | 7. Conan | 8. Rio de Janeiro | 9. Seaweed | 10. Queen | 11. Biodegradable | 12. Elizabeth of York | 13. Santa Fe | 14. Orlando Bloom | 15. 125 | 16. Russia | 17. Hydra | 18. Rosemary | 19. Basilica | 20. Bones | 21. Venus | 22. Kenya | 23. A pond | 24. 16 | 25. Fibonacci sequence.

RIDDLE: Your right elbow.

LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN | 23 January 2024 - 29 January 2024 Ph: 03 409 2800 enquiries@qmg.co.nz jobfix.co.nz

Youth Worker Position

Are you an awesome people person?

Are you easy-going, FUN and good at making people feel welcome? Are you an OUTDOORSY-UP-FOR-ANYTHING kind of person? Do you like to INNOVATE and create? Can you organise and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN? Do you have experience working with YOUNG PEOPLE aged 10-18 and up to 24 years old? If so, then you could be the person EXTRAORDINAIRE that we are looking for to join our dynamic crew at Whakatipu Youth Trust Whakatipu Youth Trust is seeking a motivated, enthusiastic youth worker for a 40-hour-weekday, fixed-term position commencing in February 2024.

This is a 1 year Fixed – Term position, covering sabbatical leave.

• Ideally you will be experienced in working with and mentoring male youth in a one-to-one capacity, as well as, delivering outcomes-based programmes for young males.

• You will have excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and a high level of computer literacy, self-management, and personal integrity.

• Preference will be given to those who have a minimum of two years experience working with youth, a relevant qualification, and a commitment to working in Queenstown.

• Must have long-term secure accommodation in Queenstown.

• A current full clean New Zealand driver’s license is essential, and you must be legally entitled to work in NZ. • Applicants should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and be fully vaccinated for Covid-19.

• Whakatipu Youth Trust is a child-safe organisation that are committed to following safe recruitment processes, including (and not limited to) police vetting.

• Terms and conditions are negotiable for the right applicant.

Check out what we do at www.whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz.

For a full job description and job application form, please email; Kirsty at info@whakatipuyouthtrust.org.nz Applications close on January 26th 2024.

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VACANCIES

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Page 20 SITUATIONS VACANT

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NJ BlockLaying, PO Box 1930 LABOURER Queenstown 9348,REQUIRED New Zealand m. +64 (0)21 309 482

Must have owne. njblocklaying@gmail.com transport, sunny disposition w. www.njblocklaying.co.nz and be a grafter!

To work as part of a great team with great remuneration. Applicants must have the legal right to work in NZ. Nathan 021 309 482

Manager and Chef positions available Odelay cafe is looking for confident team members for full time positions.

Training given.

Email Ed odelaycafe@yahoo.co.nz

Trade Counter Sales • • • •

Competitive wages Great company culture Fast-paced environment Full-time, long-term position with scope for career development

If you understand Service and have an exceptional work ethic then please get in touch. simon.ryder@harrisonbloy.co.nz or phone 0275 333 006

We are hiring!!!

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Page 21 SITUATIONS VACANT

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Queenstown Stopping Services are looking to hire TRAINEE PLASTERERS to join our team. If you would like to learn a trade with a progressive career and you meet the following criteria we would like to hear from you: • Be willing to commit to at least 2 years • Have a valid work visa or permanent residency • Have your own vehicle and full New Zealand drivers license.

• Have a good work ethic and work well in a team.

• Have a good level of physical fitness to work in a fast paced environment We are a well established local company with a sociable team and can offer competitive hourly pay within the industry.

Please email your CV to queenstownstoppingservices@gmail.com

Central Drycleaning has a position available for immediate start:

FULL TIME EMPLOYEE Full training will be offered for the role. The tasks will include all aspects of the running of our business, garment pressing, loading and unloading of machines, sorting garments, packing customer orders. Customer service on our counter and collection and delivery via our van runs.

Gantley’s Tavern est. 1865 Exciting Part Time / Full Time job opportunities at Gantley's Tavern! If you're passionate about hospitality, thrive in a dynamic setting, and want to be part of our storied tradition, apply now!

• Duty Manager • Front of House • Baristas

• Sous Chef • Kitchen Hand

Email your CV to courtney@gantleystavern.co.nz

The ideal candidate/s will have the ability to work in NZ. A current drivers licence would be beneficial in the roles.

Successful applicant will receive excellent renumeration and other benefits supplied by Central Drycleaning Ltd.

Located in the heart of Arrowtown, The Fork and Tap is a vibrant, historic restaurant and gastropub that provides an array of New Zealand craft beers, excellent wine options and fresh, delicious food to match.

We have just completed a renovation to our kitchen, dining room, garden bar and toilets.

DUTY MANAGERS & FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF - FULL TIME We are looking to fill various roles, from fast paced learners to hospitality professionals.

Your role will require you to give exceptional customer service as well as being knowledgeable about the various products we sell. Attention to detail and a drive to go the extra mile essential.

Your role will be spread between working behind the bar, preparing drinks and taking food orders, to working on the floor, greeting/meeting customers, helping them to a table and delivering their food to them.

What we can offer you: • Excellent Renumeration $26 - $29.66 depending on experience • Full Staff Meals & Drinks provided on shift.

• Paid meal breaks.

• 30% Discount when not at work There are 10 positions available.

To apply send you CV and covering letter to hello@theforkandtap.co.nz

Apply to accounts@centraldrycleaning.co.nz

FULL-TIME CLEANER WANTED LAKES DISTRICT HOSPITAL $28.18 P/H Contact: jemma.mcpherson@nz.issworld.com 027 250 7692

Advertise your job vacancy | Upload online at jobfix.co.nz

Housekeeper / Commercial Cleaner We require a cleaner to join our team.

We are looking for a reliable and enthusiastic team player with great attention to detail.

Offering $29 - $30 per hour.

Please apply by forwarding your CV to stay@alexisqueenstown.co.nz

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Page 22 SITUATIONS VACANT

VACANCIES PEOPLE LIKE US ARROWTOWN ARE HIRING We currently have positions available for Sous Chefs & Chef de Parties.

Both roles will be suited to a person who is organised, has high standards and likes to be part of a very busy kitchen.

Public Kitchen and Bar, Finz Seafood and Grill, and Bella Cucina are looking for superstars who genuinely care and want to join an amazing team to help deliver memorable experiences for our guests.

We are hiring in the following positions: Restaurant Manager Waitstaff Duty Manager Bartenders • • • •

We offer: Competitive compensation Flexible scheduling for work-life balance Exceptional team spirit Professional development and opportunities for growth Send your CV to Liz at admin@wai.net.nz

Supporting the senior chefs with menu prep, along with training junior team members is all part of the role.

If you have an eye for detail, are looking to develop both your cooking and professional skills, we can give you the flexibility to work across 2 venues or chose a spot that best suits you with both daytime and evening shifts available.

'La Rumbla' has a focus on a Modern Mediterranean shared menu, along with cocktails, an ever changing wine list & over 12 years of looking after our fans.

'Slow Cuts' is our upbeat slow cooked meats, burgers, fresh salad approach to dining. We have an operating brewery on site, with a focus on beers, wines & fun.

Both roles offer staff meals, tips, staff discounts & on going support. We have positions open for sponsorship as well as offering training to new people to the industry.

Renumeration is based on experience, commitment & qualifications. We have crew that have gone from juniors to shareholders. So make your life happen!

Please email your CV and a brief cover letter to pj@peoplelikeus.co.nz

Housekeeping Attendant Responsibilities:

• Service and prepare rooms for guest arrivals • Organize linen and supply inventories • Clean common spaces and facilities • Maintain courtyards, garages, and walkways

FIND THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR YOUR JOB VACANCY

What we are looking for: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with attention to detail and the ability to work effectively in a team.

Strong physicality, with the ability to consistently complete 8 hours of physical work.

Must be able to work a �lexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Increased starting wage with maintenance experience!

What we offer:

• $26 an hour • A great work culture with �lexibility and respect • Staff Parking

Feel free to stop by with your CV and speak to David or Megan.

Otherwise, all email enquires to: Megan, HR/Head keeper Housekeeper@theglebe.co.nz

Page 23

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Page 23 SITUATIONS VACANT

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PEOPLE LIKE US ARROWTOWN ARE HIRING We are looking to include in our team 2 Front of House Positions Part or Full Time Bartender & a Full Time Waitperson.

These roles are suited to people who enjoy being busy, looking after the locals & visitors to Arrowtown, along with learning & growing in the Hospitality Industry.

We have 2 busy restaurants with bars. We can give you the flexibility to work across 2 venues or chose a spot that best suits you.

'La Rumbla' has a focus on a Modern Mediterranean shared menu, along with cocktails, an ever changing wine list & over 12 years of looking after our fans.

'Slow Cuts' is our upbeat slow cooked meats, burgers, fresh salad approach to dining. We have an operating brewery on site, with a focus on beers, wines & fun.

Both roles offer staff meals, tips, staff discounts & on going support. We have positions open for sponsorship as well as offering training to new people to the industry.

Renumeration is based on experience, commitment & qualifications. We have crew that have gone from juniors to shareholders. So make your life happen!

Please email your CV and a brief cover letter to pj@peoplelikeus.co.nz

JEWELLERY SALES POSITION Jamies Jewellers is New Zealand’s oldest family-owned jewellery store.

We are passionate about jewellery and love our incredible work environment which is fun and also educational. We have an exciting opportunity for a sales assistant in our Frankton store.

You will assist our customers with their enquiries and also work in the back office on watch and jewellery repairs whilst liaising with our jewellers and suppliers. You will build customer relationships while challenging yourself with sales and productivity targets.

ABOUT YOU

- Previous retail or sales experience - A customer-focused mindset with a serious commitment to providing outstanding service - Proactive, confident and able to use initiative - Extremely reliable; able to work unsupervised - Excellent at communication with all demographics - Fantastically presented - Very computer savvy - Eager and willing to learn

In addition, you will need to be good with your hands and enjoy working in a small team and have: - A passion for providing every customer with exceptional customer service - Attention to detail, especially when handling precious jewelley items - A great eye for detail & visual merchandising - Good eyesight - Excellent written & spoken English - Willingness to work during weekends, holidays, and peak retail seasons

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Ongoing training, development & progression A supportive team that knows when to be serious and when to have fun Very generous staff discounts on jewellery and watches Competitive rate of pay Please send your CV with covering letter via email to office@jamies.co.nz