The Flyer - September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 - EDITION 89

YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE

Cory Ratahi E hīkoi ana i te korero Walking the Talk - Te Reo Māori Image: Cory Ratahi winning the 2019 Spirit of Education Award for his work with Te Reo Māori.

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FRONT PAGE FEATURE

On September 18 the community will celebrate the second Spirit of the Wakatipu Awards, first held in 2019. Almost 160 nominations were received for this year’s awards, run by the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Wakatipu Community Foundation. Event organiser and foundation trustee Simon Green says more than 50 individuals and organisations are up for awards this month. In 2019 Cory Ratahi won the Spirit of Education Award for his work with Te Reo Māori. This year Queenstown’s Covid crisis heroes will also be honoured in a special acknowledgement from District Mayor Jim Boult.

Queenstown’s Cory Ratahi grew up among strong tangata whenua heritage north of Gisborne on the East Coast, spending a lot of time on a traditional marae, but up until his mid-30s Cory was lost for words…Te Reo – the language of his people.

In the era in which he grew up he was encouraged to focus on English as that was how he would get ahead in his education. However, Cory says a strong urge to learn Te Reo Māori welled up inside him when he began to hear Pākehā and other nationalities speaking Te Reo Māori.

An IT technician for the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Cory immersed himself in some basic Te Reo language courses with SIT locally about five years ago. His appetite was far from full when these courses ended so Cory volunteered as a teacher’s aid in the classes, “to help my own personal journey”, he says.

He wasn’t the only one keen to learn and somehow the classes blossomed into Cory now teaching two, by early August this year three, Te Reo classes a week locally, all for free. Not only this, but Waiatatia, a local waiata singing group, was born out of the classes and Cory rehearses weekly with these performers. The group is already in demand around the community for the likes of conference entertainment, Māori welcomes and special occasions like Matariki and Waitangi celebrations.

It doesn’t stop there. A Mau Rākau group, performing this Māori weaponry art form, incorporating taiaha, (long-handled Māori weapon), is another passion of Cory’s. He’s one of the graded members, practising with the group several hours a week and travelling around the country to grading competitions. “All of this came out of my wanting to speak Te Reo,” he says. Thankfully his Pākehā wife, Caroline Richardson, is part of Waiatatia and the group regularly supports the local kaumatua (Maori elder), Darren Rewi.

This year they held the prestigious honour of opening the Wakatipu Music Festival with their performance live-streamed on Radio New Zealand.

While the lessons are all for free, the performance group has been instructed that it must ask for a small koha for events such as this, in accordance with Māori tradition. This has never a problem to grateful recipients who are in awe of the experience. “Queenstown is unique and I’ve had so much support from non-Māori wanting to learn Te Reo and be involved with what we’re doing,” says Cory. It’s not only Pākehā who are keen to learn, but Cory’s taught a number of Canadians, Australians, Americans, Asians and plenty of Brits.

“The majority of them have followed the lessons right through from when I started and they’re getting close to fluency,” he says. “I’m finding it’s predominantly non-Māori who are becoming very confident in speaking Te Reo in our community,” says Cory, who’s keen to nurture them on their journey. For local Māori there is also a rumaki (immersion) Māori session every two weeks at the Frankton Library for those wanting to practice speaking in a Te Reo-only environment.

Mau Rākau group performance.

FROM THE TEAM September is now upon us and while technically we are heading into Spring it seems the mountains are just starting to look good with our recent snowfalls.

Practising with taiaha's (long-handed Māori weapon).

There’s absolutely no judgement if people give Te Reo a go and don’t quite get the pronunciation right, he says. All he wants to see is everybody giving it a go. “It’s just a respectful thing to do to try and use Te Reo if you can and that’s all I ask,” he says, “just for people’s best effort. I don’t get hung up on mistakes. It doesn’t bother me as I had to start there too,” he says. The encouraging part for him and other Māori is to see everybody trying to learn, or practising. “We afford that privilege to French and other languages so why not Te Reo?” he says.

New Zealand is seeing a big transition among its younger population towards learning and using Te Reo. “I think it’s a change that needs to happen.” However, Cory says for multi-generational Pākehā New Zealanders who’ve grown up hearing the wrong pronunciation it’s been quite a challenge. Many feel embarrassed to even try. Cory, who fully admits that he would intentionally mispronounce Te Reo “just to fit in”, assures people not to be shy or concerned about being judged. They won’t.

Te Reo is something to be proud of in our Kiwi heritage, he says.

In this month's edition we welcome Adam back. This month Adam is talking about the benefits of an open mind. In our front page feature we get to know 2019's Spirit of Education Award winner Cory Ratahi. Inside we sit down with the very talented Eliott Allemand who has just been accepted into the Berklee College of Music, and we meet with Hamish Goodall who has brought snow biking to the southern mountains. We also have your favourite regulars - Ferg keeping us updated with the sports news and the always entertaining Shaun with his views on fatherhood and everyday life.

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Singing performance by Waiatatia.

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Kim and Tom moved down from Auckland to Queenstown and are enjoying settling into life here with the their 2 kids Cooper and Miller.

Rymi danced the night away at the Bruce Springsteen Tribute show held at the Queenstown Memorial Centre.

Kate appreciated this beautiful view while enjoying a high tea at Eichardts.

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ELIOTT ALLEMAND QUEENSTOWN MUSO TALENT TO STUDY AMONG USA’S BEST Queenstown may have gone quiet during and after lockdown last year, but talented local saxophone player Eliott Allemand didn’t. The gifted teenage musician was still jazzing up some award-winning sounds from his home-based studio, and now it’s paying off.

Disappointed at missing last year’s opportunity - an invitation to compete in the prestigious World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood to have been held in July 2020, Eliott instead sought a silver lining. Stuck at home during lockdown he took to the keys and entered two original compositions in the 2020 version of the event, the Virtual World Championships of Performing Arts. Both instrumental tunes were written on the piano, saxophone, drums and bass, which Eliott synched together to earn himself two gold medals.

One of the songs was performed using a loop pedal with Eliott playing guitar, keyboard, saxophone, and doing vocals over the top. “That one was all done in 90 seconds, according to the rules for the competition,” says Eliott.

This month (September 3) he will release the final version of the song, ‘AO’, on Spotify and also on his own YouTube channel where his talents were first spotted by the competition organisers in 2019, prompting the invitation. “It’s my first release in a long time. ‘AO’ just kind of happened during lockdown,” he says. Since then Eliott has also been

accepted for Berklee College of Music in Boston, one of the world’s most prestigious and sought-after music colleges, which specialises in contemporary music studies and jazz.

Not only that, but Eliott has been awarded a scholarship to attend.

He was to have set off for the United States this month (September) to start his first semester, however, uncertainty about the timing of his Covid vaccine meant he had to postpone his physical attendance until May next year. The college reopens this month after Covid lockdowns and all students must be vaccinated, Eliott says. “Fortunately at the same time I applied for their online course and began studying through that in January this year gaining credits before I go.” With straight A’s already under his saxophone belt the real thing should hopefully be a breeze.

In the meantime, Eliott, who turns 19 this month, (September) is continuing with his other music endeavours that, by the time he was 17 had already scored him gigs and appearances overseas.

“I’ve been doing heaps of gigs, all private functions like weddings or proposals and busking on the Queenstown waterfront.” His repertoire often includes the likes of Ed Sheeran, John Legend, and Bruno Mars.

He’s even shot a cool music video around the Wakatipu basin for his new song.

Eliott didn’t only win a scholarship for Berklee. Otago and Auckland universities also awarded him scholarships which he had to turn down.

“Berklee is where most of my music idols and heroes have gone, like Quincy Jones, Charlie Puth, and John Mayer. I’ve always dreamed of going there,” says Eliott. He’s hoping to rub shoulders and make melody with a few big names when he gets there too.

In the meantime, he’s earning all he can from his music here in Queenstown to help fund any extra costs while in the United States.

Check out the new release, ‘AO’ by Eliott Allemand on Spotify or Eliott’s YouTube channel.

Eliott Allemand off to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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6

FLYER MUST DO'S

OUR TOP PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER

SEP 3

NEW ZEALAND BRAIN TUMOUR TRUST SILVER GALA DINNER/DANCE Skyline Gondola Time: 6:00pm

Watch the sun set over the surrounding mountains and Lake Wakatipu from the Queenstown Gondola and arrive for champagne and canapes and warm welcome by the trustees followed by a sophisticated dinner featuring local produce.

The night is yours to dance away under the stars with the remarkable Oxo Cubans – Otago’s best dance band. A fabulous starry evening for a fabulous cause.

SEP 11

PEAK TO PEAK

Remarkables Skifield Time: 8:30am - 04:00pm

The Peak to Peak is a stunningly scenic one-day multisport challenge held in Queenstown that challenges competitors to test both their physical and mental strength.

The event is New Zealand’s longest running winter multisport race incorporating an exciting line up of five race stages. The route starts high on The Remarkables mountain range and finishes at Coronet Peak base building. Racing as an individual, tandem or relay team, competitors face five amazing stages.

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SEP 10

A NIGHT OF CRACKUP COMEDY SKYCITY Queenstown Time: 8:00pm – 10:30pm

Fresh off his North Island tour, join us as we welcome the insanely likeable and talented James Roque. Alongside the award-winning delight that is Liv McKenzie and excellently dressed bravado of Ray O’ Leary! With the return of your always hilarious and talented host, Mr Paul Douglas!

Join us for a classic night of Crackup Comedy!

Restrictions:R20 General Admission: $28.62.

SEP 17

THE REES CULINARY SERIES WITH CARDRONA DISTILLERY The Rees Hotel Time: 6:30pm - 11:00pm

Hosted by The Rees Hotel, Cardrona Distilleries Master Distiller Sarah Elsom with food pairings by award winning executive chef, Corey Hume.

You will enjoy five courses and six Cardrona Distillery spirits with a Welcome Cocktail and Canapes included.

Tickets $135.00

SEP 22

ANTONIE TONNON ALBUM RELEASE TOUR Sherwood Time: 8:30pm

Anthonie Tonnon has released ‘Leave Love Out Of This’, the title track from his upcoming third album Leave Love Out Of This. A nationwide album release tour featuring a full band has also been announced.

Having more recently focussed on delivering thematic solo shows like A Synthesized Universe and his yearly Rail Land journeys, in September 2021 Tonnon embarks on an album release tour that expands his onstage line-up to include a full band for the first time since 2018.

7

Some of Queenstown's migrant community enjoy a meal and a get together recently.

SHARING THE LOVE...

NO MATTER WHAT THE LINGO While it’s been an incredibly tough 17 months for Queenstown’s migrant community, still separated from family by thousands of kilometres, a heap of helpful initiatives launched by the Lakes District Multicultural Council is soothing the blow. About 30 to 40 percent of the Wakatipu’s migrant community and workforce was forced to, or chose to, leave last year due to the Covid crisis and its resultant effects. Multicultural Society secretary Sunitha Karunakaran says it’s been extremely tough for many of the foreigners who managed to stay and retain their jobs.

However, in the last year a whole myriad of support initiatives have been put in place, many of them with help from kind volunteers in the Wakatipu community.

The Wakatipu currently has about 50 different nationalities represented, up from about 30 last year, and about 25 leaders of the different nationalities are now represented on a newly-launched digital community hub. Leaders from many of the countries’ community groups – India, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore to name a few, all meet regularly on Zoom to connect and work on support solutions. “Our focus has mainly been on mental health projects, such as self-care packages, getting people out and about to attend interesting workshops and pop-in, sign-posting sessions to support and provide information to those from different lands who are making Queenstown home,” says Sunitha. Those wanting to speak with a counsellor can even be connected with someone who speaks their own language over Zoom if they prefer, or meet in person with a local counsellor.

Catering equipment has been made available to all hub ethnic leaders so that members of their communities can borrow it to hold cultural dinners. Communities can then get together to celebrate their individual independence days and other celebrations specific to their home countries and Sunitha says Queenstown Plunket has made its rooms available for these for a non-profit rate. Hobby groups, including baking sessions in Lake Hayes Estate, are proving popular. The society provides the ingredients and the baking is donated to charity organisations, or taken to participants’ neighbours to help form friendships. Free dance classes are also being held weekly for children from five to eight-yearsold. Hub leaders networking coffee meetings are held monthly in addition to the fortnightly Zoom meetings.

All of this has been greatly assisted by Ministry of Social Development funding grants. “We’ve progressed heaps,” she says. “A lot of our migrants didn’t go back home after lockdown, some did. Those with jobs stayed.

However, with the Aussie bubble not staying open it’s been difficult for many, financially and mentally,” she says. “They may have had hours cut from 40 a week to 20, so that support network is so important.” One member of the community has lost two parents who both lived overseas within five weeks or each other. This person was unable to get home for the funerals and many others have family battling Covid-19, or they are dealing with the grief of having lost loved ones, Sunitha says.

Sunitha herself, has been unable to see her family in Malaysia now for eight years. “We were saving for a house, but we were finally going back for a holiday then the lockdown happened last year,” she says. “There are so many people like that. People have been feeling lonely. They can’t go home,” she says.

The global crisis now means many more foreigners are staying on though too and making Queenstown their permanent home, rather than leaving for the city once they get residency after a few years, she says.

Sunitha and her team welcome anyone who would like to join the coffee catch-ups or hobby groups, as well as volunteers who want to get involved.

To help out or be helped contact: Email: secretaryldmc17@gmail.com Phone or text: 0220122439

From left - Noelle Cheah Byers , Natasha Zambri enjoy a multicultural get together recently.

8

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH THE WALK IN WARDROBE Queenstown’s much-loved, preloved The Walk In Wardrobe fashion brand is expanding to Frankton, where preloved high quality and one-off furniture and homeware pieces will team up with the latest preloved high-end clothing and accessories.

The Walk In Wardrobe director Jenna McLellan, who first launched her now nationally-renowned central Queenstown preloved fashion store in 2007, has been fielding requests for a Frankton store for some time.

Jenna has finally found just the right site at The Landing in Remarkables Park, near Odelay and Girl Next Door, and will launch The Walk In Wardrobe – Preloved and Reloved in early to mid-November.

The large 170sqm store will not only stock some 2000 high end clothing items, but also excellent quality furniture and homeware pieces.

“I’m now on the lookout for pieces that are quality and unique,” she says. “I want to offer quality furniture, homeware and clothing at great prices,” says Jenna. She’s long held a passion for handcrafted furniture, particularly quirky hardwood furniture pieces from overseas. There’ll be a great range of items in the new store, including a variety of tables, sets of drawers, cabinets, lamps and mirrors, and much more, likely to range in price from $10 through to $2000.

Jenna’s also excited to be able to offer a much wider selection of preloved clothing - designer items, high-end, high street, as well as more everyday styles with a ladies, men’s and children's range. Each item will carry The Walk In Wardrobe’s now renown ed, impeccable stamp of excellent condition.

“We’ll have more room for stock at The Landing store, therefore we’ll be able to offer a wider selection,” she says. The new store will be open daily from 9am until 6pm with clothing drop offs most welcome leading up to and after opening.

“Our vision is to offer a sustainable product and I don’t believe what we do is done quite the same anywhere else. We’re all about upcycling and recycling, offering quality pieces at great prices in a beautifully merchandised store,” says Jenna.

The Walk in Wardrobe offer cash upfront for your preloved clothing.

Jenna and the team are super keen to hear from anyone selling quality items. They believe this service will really suit those people who are having a huge clear out, moving on, or who generally don't have time to sell items individually themselves. With their large removal truck they can get the job done for people quickly and easily leaving them with instant cash in the bank and without the hassle.

Jenna is also busy finding local craftspeople who upcycle furniture and create furniture from recycled materials. “I love unique and different, and it will be great to offer items like this in store,” she says.

She's expecting the new Frankton store will also quickly become a must do for tourists who have visited the town store when heading out to Queenstown Airport. “Tourists from the likes of Auckland and Wellington already come and seek out our downtown Queenstown store because they’ve heard about us,” says Jenna. “The feedback from customers still blows us away and the continued support from locals, and tourists from far and wide, puts a smile on our faces every day.”

The Walk In Wardrobe in downtown Queenstown will continue as it is - a successful preloved fashion boutique. Its online store launched during lockdown last year has only served to boost the brand nationally even more with items posted all over New Zealand and Australia.

The friendly team at The Wardrobe can't wait to open the doors to the new store that will offer an array of quality and unique treasures from far and wide.

“In the last decade we’ve seen a huge shift. Preloved is becoming such a sustainable way of shopping. People are scoring unbelievable finds, saving lots of money while obtaining quality items. They’re thrilled to be part of a great preloved revolution,” she says. Shopping preloved is no longer snubbed or frowned upon. It’s a badge to be worn with pride.

Plenty of free parking and its central Frankton social hub location will make the new store ideal for drop-offs and Jenna is offering her usual cash up front offer for clothing, as well as furniture and homeware. The Walk In Wardrobe will be offering its pick up service option for any large amounts of clothing or furniture items. Until The Walk In Wardrobe opens the Frankton store in November, clothing can also be dropped off by arrangement between Tuesdays and Thursdays in Frankton, if people can't make it into the Queenstown store. Just call or text Jenna on 02102288569.

The team are looking forward to opening the new store in Frankton.

Jenna 021 022 88569 • The Landing Remarkables

FROM THE SIDELINE WITH FERG They managed to get through the Olympics successfully, or did they? I am sure that is still being debated around the world. For the International Olympic Committee, they will take the high ground and say that the games were a success as the world stopped and looked in on sport at a time when it was needed.

From a competition point of view they were a success, especially for us here in New Zealand as further chapters, that will never be forgotten, were written into our sports history. I am sure there will be some athletes who felt they were a success, through results, and those who felt that maybe they were an experience like no other. And they were because of Covid.

We saw recently that the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix was cancelled again, BUT the Paralympics went ahead. I read that cases in Japan went from around 2000 per day prior to the Olympics to 20,000 after, the increase put down to various variants which arrived in Japan with Olympic staff. At risk now are the most vulnerable, our para athletes.

The Olympic Games have already receded into history and France in 2023 now sits on the horizon. Some are saying that the world’s attention has moved away from Japan, but I say if our Paralympians get caught in a Covid fire storm, Japan will be squarely back in the sights of the rest of the world and I hope for them and the athletes that is not the case.

AND THAT’S MY VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE...

Queenstown What did the games do for Japan, from a health and wellbeing perspective, as well as financially? Financially you would have to say that some cagey, high ranking official will paint a picture of positivity and as for health and wellbeing of the Japanese people.

We know Covid cases continued to surge during the games, in fact they tripled, but health officials have denied any direct link with the Olympic Games.

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FERTILITY SUPPORT Are you or do you know someone who is having trouble conceiving naturally? One of the greatest ways to deal with infertility is to talk about it. This is not always easy or comfortable. You may also feel alone and not have people to talk to who understand the experience of infertility. Due to the private nature of infertility, it is difficult to know who to contact.

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10

SEPTEMBER READING ADULTS' READ Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson F NEL– (Frankton, Wanaka)

Set primarily in London and told in the second person, this novel follows a young unnamed black photographer as he forges an artistic working relationship with a friend's ex. She is a university student and dancer, and the two are inseparable as they work together on a photography project to document the city's black residents. Over time, the platonic relationship turns romantic, yet he keeps a distance from her while processing memories of racist enc ounters with police and witnessing those of others. A stunning first novel by a new literary virtuoso, this was a finalist for the BBC Short Story Award. This book asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a black body, to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength, to find safety in love, only to lose it.

KIDS' READ Frostheart: Escape from Aurora by Jamie Littler CF LIT – (Frankton)

Nevermoor meets How to Train Your Dragon in this thrilling sequel to Frostheart! Ash and his ragtag crew of misfits aboard the Frostheart sleigh have just pulled into Aurora: the most dazzling city Ash has ever seen. Icy skyscrapers, wondrous new foods, and bustling city folk who barely have the time of day for a smalltown kid like him. That is, until he masters the art of songweaving--the ability to control the giant monsters that lurk in the snow beyond city limits. But the real reason Ash came to Aurora is to find his long lost parents. The only token they left him before their disappearance was a lullaby; a map disguised as a song that has led him from landmark to landmark, all in the hopes of finding them at the end of it. With the help of his friends, Ash is one step closer to finding the family he's always longed for. He may find, though, that getting what you wish for is more complicated than he imagines, and Ash's world is about to expand in ways he never thought possible. With lovable characters, an action-filled plot and stunning illustrations, this is a great series that you don’t want to miss!

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11

WITH SHAUN VINING So as we sit with the chaos around me of lockdown again, I need to remember a few things (for now and the future):

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1.

Give yourself a break, not only mentally, but physically.

Even five minutes for yourself will help. If you’re a mum then I pray you can hide somewhere at least. Here’s something that might help. Play heads down and thumbs up a few times then when they are used to it actually leave the room and hide somewhere. (Yes, I’ve said this one before but it is a gem).

2.

Give the kids a break. They are used to routine and then it gets changed and that messes with their heads. It’s the same with school holidays. So I suggest trying to keep some things the same, e.g. meal times, bed times, etc.

3.

Give other people a break. We all react differently to adversity. They may be going through something that you don’t know about, or maybe they are just annoying, but annoying people are still loved by someone, so give them a break.

4.

Give your partner a break. This can be a hard one as you, or they, may need someone to bounce all their thoughts off, or to complain to, and they may not mentally be where you are at. This can make things difficult so navigate when you’re legally stuck with them in your bubble for a period of time.

5.

Give Jacinda a break. I’m not a big fan of our Prime Minister, however, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t wake up in the morning and intentionally go, “How can I ruin the country today?” She’s doing the best she can with the information and advice she is given.

6.

Give essential service people a break. Even if we are not in a lockdown they are still essential workers. They keep the country running and they need support and grace, especially when on the frontline.

7.

Give your liver a break. (I probably don’t need to explain this one).

8.

Give your bank account a break. It’s far too easy to online shop when confined to a small place for a period of time and the money disappears pretty quickly when you go down those rabbit holes. IF you need to spend online try and buy local.

9.

Give your kids’ teachers a break. If online learning occurs, it’s not as simple as just zooming to the class. There’s heaps of background work that goes into planning when in the classroom and it makes it five times harder when distance learning. As long as your kids are doing some type of reading every day and some type of maths then that’s great. Don’t forget doing baking is Reading, Maths and Science, as well as negotiation, home technology, and maybe even PE/Health as well.

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QUICK QUIZ

1. W hat colour is found on 75% of the world’s flags?

2. Which planet has the most moons?

3. Which bird can fly backwards?

4. W hat is the symbol for the element of gold?

5. What was the most downloaded app of 2020?

6. Z and which other letter are worth the most in Scrabble?

7. A lektorophobia is the fear of what?

8. What is the correct term for a question mark immediately followed by an exclamation mark?

Remember that when stuff gets a little crazy to BREATHE. Breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold for four seconds and breathe out for four seconds. Repeat four times and I guarantee you a chocolate bar that it helps.

You are enough.

You are amazing.

You are loved.

Shaun Follow ‘Confessions of a Queenstown Dad’ on Instagram: @confessionsofaqtdad

ANSWERS 1. Red 2. Saturn 3. Hummingbird 4. Au 5. TikTok 6. Q 7. Chickens 8. Interrobang

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14

BACKCOUNTRY KIWI INGENUITY Hamish Goodall is a Kiwi DIY guy who just happened to have a good idea…and now it’s paying off.

A super keen snowboarder, Hamish was getting some air enjoying a long season in Canada a few years back when he spent a day out snow biking with his mates. It was too much fun. From then on the Manawatu farmraised mechanic was on a mission to get the converted dirt bikes – jokingly referred to as a “Harley cross with a jetski”, onto Kiwi slopes back home.

Most seasons he’s taken several hundred customers for a cruise, some half day, some full day, and others keen for overnight expeditions in the backcountry huts on the Range. Some recent national publicity had Hamish’s phone running hot.

Pretty much a one-man band Hamish is Snowmoto owner, director, mechanic, administrator and cook all in one. Like any good Kiwi bloke he’s pretty ace on the barbie, turning out great burgers, sausages or venison sandwiches for lunch, when required. And you guessed it, Hamish even shoots the deer himself.

All in a day’s work for this hardworking Kiwi, who’s pumping out 12 to 13hour days, seven days a week, but oh, what a workplace!

“They’re trail bikes with the wheels taken off, a ski in place of the front wheel and snowmobile-type tracks in place of the back wheel,” says Hamish.

He moved back to New Zealand in 2018 and has since set up an automotive workshop with a mate in Cromwell.

In early 2018 he’d identified the best site in the lower South Island to launch snow bikes as the latest adventure tourism attraction. “I thought I’d give it a crack,” he says. Hamish bought topography maps and mapped out the lower South Island in search of the best area to set up his Snowmoto operation. “Then I went door knocking.”

In 2019 he launched the activity in the Hector Ranges on Kingston Station, south of Queenstown.

Hamish is not only a dab hand with an engine, he converted his eight bikes himself. The tracks were built in a factory in Canada. They reach around 85km per hour on the snow and while it’s handy for riders to have some motorbike experience Hamish says they’re quite safe. Snowmoto operates on a 1214ha (3000-acre), average one metre, sometimes two-metre deep, snow playground. His riders, who range from 15 to their late 60s, have been getting some good air on their snow bikes, leaping as high as one to two metres, depending on speed. The scenery is second to none and most of his customers have always been Kiwis.

Getting air on a Snowmoto bike.

Snowmoto groups taking in the stunning scenery.

15

SPRING ON THE WAY! Less is more with this simple beauty!

Light and sparkling with a touch of refreshing cucumber and mint, putting this drink together is as simple as it’s ingredients. Garnish with a long ribbon of cucumber for an elegant cocktail at your next girl’s night or spring dinner party.

SKILL: QUICK & EASY SERVES: ONE

CORNER OF TEX SMITH LANE & HAWTHORNE DRIVE, FRANKTON

OPEN 7 DAYS 9AM - LATE

METHOD 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Super Liquor Remarkables Park

Add a cucumber ribbon to a tall glass Measure and pour in 42 BELOW Add a pinch of salt and fill the glass completely with ice Top with sparkling water Garnish with fresh mint

EXPLORE YOUR POTENTIAL with Adam Chalmers Open minds are a joy to be around. Holding their opinions lightly and welcoming new perspectives, they embrace diversity, and see things with a wide lens. Rather than focusing their attention solely on information that confirms their existing opinions, open minds resist re-enforcing what they already know. Confirmation bias is the fruit of a closed mind, the result of placing one’s attention on sources of information that only serve to confirm existing beliefs.

In our ever more polarising world of vocal opinions, the best hope we have of a balanced society – one that walks the line between extremes – is to acknowledge our own limitations in understanding, and to open our minds to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.

If you are the type of person to choose discussion over an argument, it’s likely you tend to hold your opinions lightly. Vigorously standing up for your views without seriously considering the other side is a fast way to lose friends and usually not worth the fight.

No one ever really wins an argument, “A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still”. The result of setting out to prove others wrong can end in distrust of those with a differing perspective, a decline in your sense of community, and a resulting loss of connection with the people around you. A question to ask yourself when faced with your potentially polarising viewpoint is, how strongly do I believe this, and am I willing to change my mind?

www.theflyer.co.nz

03 442 9801 WWW.SUPERLIQUOR.CO.NZ REMARKABLESPARK@SUPERLIQUOR.CO.NZ

Confirmation bias can become a self-perpetuating cycle. We all have beliefs picked up either from direct experience or somebody else’s opinion. When we want this opinion to be true, usually for emotive reasons, we seek out information and people who confirm and strengthen our existing beliefs. When enough people get together who all think and say the same things (the opposite of diversity) we get something called Group Think, and anyone who does not think as the group thinks is simply not welcome. This is an age-old problem of boxed in thinking, and the simplest way to avoid it is to keep your options open and your friend group as diverse as possible. We avoid ‘us and them’ thinking when we diversify our thoughts and experiences, continually opening our minds to the fresh and new.

Expand your mind to welcome in new people, places, experiences, and sources of information. Open minded people know how surface level their understanding really is and they are keen to learn from viewpoints different to their own. You can’t get into an argument with someone of flexible opinions, thus you can develop a mutually beneficial relationship based on ever increasing understanding of your different ways of perceiving the world.

Can you acknowledge that you are not always correct, your perspective is limited, and there are many ways of seeing life?

This is a massive step forward in the direction of improved mental wellbeing and will greatly enhance the quality of your relationships and sense of community. Ask questions – don’t shy away from the tricky ones – and be willing to discuss anything. An open-minded person resists the urge to be right and becomes the voice of reason. As my brother once shared with me, “Have strong opinions, held lightly”.

Connect with Adam at www.awakenintelligence.com

theflyer

@theflyer

16

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) For people with mild to moderate dementia or memory loss.

Time: 1pm - 2pm Location: Frankton Library Date: Each Monday 16th August - 4th October

CST is proven to improve memory and mood, but the part our clients enjoy the most is meeting others in the same situation Thanks to the generous support of

ADEPT -MACTODD Charitable Trust

Contact us now to find out more Gayle Thornton 027 441 4960 queenstown@alzheimersotago. org.nz

with Rymi Sakimura

TED TALKS DAILY SUBJECT: EDUCATION SOCIETY & CULTURE Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology to raising your kids, and everything in between — given by the world's leading thinkers and creators.

With TED Talks Daily, find some space in your day to change your perspectives, ignite your curiosity, and learn something new. Thousands of episodes for you to pick from and something for everyone.

INSTA FAVES

Our favourite accounts this month.

PHOTO COMP

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Send us in your best photo of something local along with a small caption to be featured in the next Flyer edition!

Email: manager@theflyer.co.nz

@gfda.co 1,369 posts 399K followers 801 following

Warning: Explicit Language.

A collection of advice quotes/inspiration that will help unstick even the most dedicated procrastinators. Covering everything from drinking your morning coffee to handling productive criticism, from embracing failure to rejecting the status quo, this account insights upend conventional thinking and teaches you to embrace and celebrate the journey of creation—the joy of trying, failing, learning, and sometimes failing again.

@humansofny 5,387 posts 11.2m followers 244 following

Wye Creek Waterfall. Photo: Rymi Sakimura.

Humans of New York began as a photography project in 2010. The initial goal was to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers on the street, and create an exhaustive catalogue of the city’s inhabitants.

This Instagram account provides a daily glimpse into the lives of strangers on the streets of New York City.

A "remarkable" view. Photo: Rymi Sakimura.

@thebucketlistfamily 2,291 posts 2.6m followers 512 following

Living the absolute dream, this family of travel journalists cover life on the road. Having travelled to more than 85 countries together and still managing to do what most people can't at the moment, this Instagram account will leave you feeling inspired to travel again!

Skippers Canyon. Photo: Rymi Sakimura.

WHAT'S COOKING? WITH TRENT WATSON Cherry Blossom Syrup With spring starting to bloom it’s time for me to make cherry blossom syrup. It can be used for many things like a mixer for gin… but in the restaurant we will be making a cocktail and a dessert.

To start we need to make your syrup that we can store for a few months.

3 cups of cherry blossoms

•

Allow the syrup to infuse for three full days and then strain the syrup through a colander that is lined with cheesecloth to remove the blossoms then squeeze the lemon juice into the syrup which will take it from a pale pink colour to a bright pink colour.

•

Once strained, you can transfer the syrup to glass jars or bottles and you can store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to one month.

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If you would like to store the syrup for a year at room temperature, then after straining, bring the syrup to a boil and pour it into clean, sterilized canning jars or bottles leaving about 1/2 inch of head space. Place lids on jars tightly and then process the jars in a boiling water bath (Bain Marie) for ten minutes... voila! Now you can enjoy this syrup during the next twelve months when the summer season is long past and cherry blossoms are but a memory waiting to be rekindled the following spring! Enjoy!

1L of water 1.1kg of sugar 1 large organic lemon

•

Gather your cherry blossoms and remove all stems and leaves and place blossoms in a large glass jar.

•

In a separate pot, bring the water and sugar to a boil, stirring the mixture to dissolve the sugar completely. Once the sugar has dissolved remove from heat. Add a metal knife, fork or spoon to the jar to conduct some of the heat from the sugar syrup so that your jar does not crack or break. Slowly pour the sugar syrup in the jar making sure to fill the jar with the syrup and cover the blossoms and lemons. Place lid on jar and close tightly.

MUST EXPLORE OLD WOMAN HUT with Rymi Sakimura Easy

1.5 hours

The Old Woman Hut offers an accessible overnighter for everyone to enjoy. Just over an hour’s walk from Duffers Saddle on Nevis Road (the highest public road in the country at a lofty 1420m).

The track to the hut starts at a DOC sign just below Duffers Saddle and descends via a 4WD track before climbing for about 20 minutes.

As height is gained, expansive views are revealed, encompassing all of the main ranges of Central Otago: the St Bathans, Dunstan and Hawduns to the east, the Pisa to the north, the Old Man to the south, and the Hectors and The Remarkables across the Nevis Valley to the west. In the distance, the rugged peaks of the Southern Alps are also clearly visible in an unbroken chain, including the tooth-like Mt Aspiring in the north-west, and Aoraki/ Mt Cook on the horizon in the north.

Old Woman Hut.

After about an hour, the track comes to a signposted junction. The Old Woman Hut is a five-minute walk down the right path.The hut is in a shallow valley beside a stream, facing north-west towards the Nevis Valley and The Remarkables.

Snow covered in winter, I recommend packing your winter woolies.

The hut can be heated with the fire inside but make sure to carry in some firewood with you!

One step closer to a

LESS WASTEFUL WORLD

TEACHING KIDS TO NOT BE WASTEFUL...

Article by Betsy Moore.

Be the example. Our kids are following our lead so we have to walk our talk when it comes to being less wasteful. I have been trying to take shorter showers, not filling up the girls' bathtub all the way, turning off lights when we don’t need them and walking instead of driving to places that are close. I try to tell our girls why we are doing these things with the hope that something will stick and they will start doing them on their own when they are older. Talk to your kids about these big environmental issues.

They understand more than we think.

Social English Conversation Group

19

FRANKTON LIBRARY

Practise your social English conversation in a friendly and welcoming environment and meet others on the same learning journey

3.30 – 4.30pm Every Wednesday

Give away items to others in need. The other day, I was cleaning out our basement on the never-ending mission to have “less stuff” in our home. Madilyn was helping me sort through the toys and baby items we don’t need anymore. She asked me, “Mum, why don’t we just throw this stuff away?” It hit me. I need to do a better job teaching and showing my kids the love of giving to others. We packed up eight rubbish bags full of toys and baby items that are going to charity.

Let the kids make their own plates of food. We used to make the kids dishes but what I found is that we had more food waste.

Now that they are a little older and more self-sufficient, we let them decide what they want. I am a mama who only makes one meal so the kids are used to the “take it or leave it” philosophy. I have found that they are learning self-control as well as wasting less food. Plus, before throwing food away, the girls ask Brian or me if we want their leftovers. Yep, sometimes I finish their plates before I go back to the kitchen for seconds.

WELCOMING

FRIENDLY

INFORMAL

For more info please contact: frankton.library@qldc.govt.nz (03) 441 3680 codc-qldc.govt.nz @qtlakeslibraries @qldclibraries

Always save leftover food. We always take leftover food home from restaurants and I try to use it up for future meals. Don’t be afraid to ask for a box for the leftover bread and butter on your table. They are just going to throw it all away. Also, leftover greens can be added to soups and stir fry. Brown bananas don’t need to be thrown out. Mash them up and add them to homemade pancakes. Always look for ways you can repurpose leftovers.

Make recycling a priority. Be cognisant of the things that can be recycled and encourage your kids to help. Have them identify the items that can go in the recycling container. We are using old, broken crayons for crafts instead of throwing them away. I have been trying to use reusable grocery store bags instead of the plastic bags. Any plastic bags get reused for doggie business outside! Our three-year-old, Juliana is the “dog manager” so she is in charge of getting the doggy bags ready when we go outside.

Give your kids jobs appropriate for their age that allow them to take some responsibility for recycling and repurposing.

Use leftover water to water plants. Sometimes we have half full bottles of water around the house. Instead of dumping down the drain, I water our plants with it. When our kids see us being conservative with water, they will follow suit. Talk to your kids about why it is important to conserve water. Talk to them about how kids in other parts of the world have to walk outside and find fresh water – for some, it doesn’t just appear through a tap.

Reduce the paper products. My mum thinks it’s hysterical that we rip our paper towels in half. They are too big for the kids so we make them stretch and last longer. We give the girls guidelines for how many sheets of toilet paper they should use.

And we recycle paper used for art work.

Also, we use the backs of colouring book pages. We even go outside and paint trees instead of using paper. We use leftover oatmeal containers and egg cartons for crafts. Before going out to the craft store and buying craft items, look around your house and see what you can use.

We are the first step to recovery.

Come and see the professionals at Queenstown Health treating everything from sprains, headaches to sleep problems.

Chiropractic - Physiotherapy - Acupuncture - Massage queenstownhealth.com

FREE TO ATTEND – ALL WELCOME

20

PET PAGE Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease Cranial cruciate ligament disease is one of the most common orthopedic issues we see in dogs of all sizes. Over time, the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in the knee degenerates and weakens, ultimately breaking. During this process your dog may intermittently limp on a back leg, and when the ligament completely ruptures most dogs are unable to bear weight on the leg.

Risk factors for CCL injury include playing fetch, rabbit chasing and jumping. These can exert high pressure twisting forces through the knee, causing sudden rupture of the ligament. Concurrently, the meniscus (cartilage cushion in the knee) can be torn, causing additional pain and swelling. A diagnosis of CCL rupture is confirmed by detecting instability (cranial drawer and tibial thrust tests) in your dog’s knee while sedated, and radiographs are taken to ensure there are no bone injuries or diseases present, and to assist with surgical planning.

Although the knee can never return to pre-injury strength, dogs do best with surgery to stabilise the knee. In dogs from around 15kg upwards, osteotomy (bone cutting) procedures are recommended. These alter the joint biodynamics to create knee stability without the presence of the ligament. We offer one of these osteotomy procedures (there are several different types), the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA). We have performed in excess of 70 TTA’s over the last 6 years with great success.

The OssAbility TTA system utilises titanium mesh technology developed by specialists in Christchurch, and has specialist support for every case, so you know your dog is receiving the best care possible. Your dog will

WITH

be admitted for an overnight stay, and a general anaesthetic given. We use a combination of analgesic (pain relieving) modalities, including epidurals and constant rate infusions, to optimise your dog’s comfort.

The joint is explored to identify and treat meniscal tears if present, then specialist orthopedic saws and drills are used to cut and move a small portion of bone, which is then stabilised with the titanium wedge, a titanium plate and screws. Your dog is then nursed by our experienced team and is usually discharged the following day. Moving forwards, these surgeries (and many others) will be performed in our purposebuilt surgical facility in our soon to open Frankton clinic.

After surgery, your dog will need 3 to 6 months to fully recover and regain pre-injury strength. The first 6 weeks are the hardest, as your dog needs to be strictly confined to avoid implant breakage and surgical failure. We are fortunate to have physiotherapy and hydrotherapy services available in the Wakatipu, which greatly assist in your dog’s surgical rehabilitation and help them return to their most active happy selves.

BOOST YOUR BRAIN

History in September September 10th, 1914.

Eruption on Whakaari White Island kills 10 people.

Riddle Which word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

Answer at bottom of page.

Expand your vocabulary

Attempts were first made to mine sulfur on Whakaari White Island around the beginning of the 20th century. Sulfur was used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid and superphosphate fertiliser.

On 10 September 1914, 10 miners were killed when part of the crater wall collapsed, causing a landslide. The only survivor was the mining company’s cat, Peter the Great.

GALLIMAUFRY (noun) a motley assortment of things.

Example: On the wall of his study, he keeps a gallimaufry of images.

Go the extra Book in a FREE dental health check for your fur friend today. queenstown@vetent.co.nz 03 442 9977 1092 Frankton Road, Frankton, Queenstown Answer: Short.

21

BACK IN THE DAY

WITH LAKES DISTRICT MUSEUM Skiing in the Whakatipu - The Early Days Continued...

In the early days of Coronet Peak many of the skiers were involved in the ski club scene and would stay in huts on the mountain during the ski season.

“You arrived at the huts on Friday night and everyone would arrive and shout and yell, and it was quite social. Saturday was the night... I remember taking the piano from the Southland Hut to the Otago Hut. We didn’t bother going down to Queenstown. All the action was up on the mountain in the huts”. (Ray Clarkson) Then, as now, for true enthusiasts skiing was an obsession: “On Mondays at work, I was always recovering from skiing. On Tuesday and Wednesday I did some work, and on Thursday and Friday I was planning for the next weekend skiing...” (Ray Clarkson) A small eating facility, affectionately known as the Pie Palace, was constructed and an instructor, Olaf Rodegard, was employed. The first rope tow had opened in 1947 and as demand grew a second rope tow was installed and the base facilities improved. “You went up the rope tow in two leaps... if you fell off you had to go to the back of the queue. There were a few grim accidents, like people putting their hands through the pulleys and terrible scalpings.” (Ray Clarkson) An improvement in air services increased accessibility to both Australian and New Zealand skiers. The increase in numbers meant that pressure on the facilities was mounting. In 1964 a double chair lift replaced the rope tows, followed by the Rocky Gully Poma in 1967, the Happy Valley Poma in 1970, the treble chair in 1974 and the Rocky Gully T-bar in 1981.

New base buildings were built in 1985 but were destroyed by fire in 1986, only to be rebuilt the following year. A high speed quad chair was introduced in 1994. As natural snow became more unreliable, snowmaking was introduced in 1990. However the lack of good snow and the congestion on Coronet Peak had led to the Mount Cook Company opening up the Remarkables skifield in the Rastus Burn basin in 1985.

Coronet Peak skifield, 1950

Photo – Lakes District Mus eum

Fire Brigade at Coronet Peak Fire 1986

Photo – Lakes District Museum

The visions of the Wigley family for skiing enterprises had a major effect on making the Whakatipu a year round visitor destination.

Lakes District Museum is open every day from 10am to 4pm.

Coronet Peak chairlift, 1990s Photo – Lakes District Museum

B R A N D I N G

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B R A N D

23

// We are a talented, and friendly team of creative thinkers, graphic designers, brand strategists and solution finders. With years of experience in all aspects of design and branding, we have what it takes to make it happen.

We love what we do, and would love to work with you. Drop into Brandland today to discuss your creative projects.

24

Qualified local Property Manager offering personalised Property Management Services with realistic rates.

Get in touch to secure our fixed Management Fee of 6.5%, set in reflection to the current market for long term rentals.

Working with the most up to date systems to ensure the best tenants are placed in your investment and all new Healthy Homes Standards are met.

Contact Mikayla Beattie Dip Business Management & Certificate in Property Management 021 997 378 | mikaylabeattie@btpropertymanagementnz.co.nz

25

SEPTEMBER WEATHER APP OF THE MONTH

1 HOUR PHOTO

with Chris Brandolino NIWA Principal Scientist.

Oh, welcome spring! We’ve been waiting for you!

1 Hour Photo gives back the nostalgia of taking print photos but with 21st Century technology.

The aim of 1 Hour Photo is to force us back into the present and stop us wasting time reviewing, editing and deleting photos allowing us to stay in the moment.

The app is simple. You take a photo and then wait an hour for the photo to be virtually ‘developed'. Every photo becomes a little present to your future self.

You have a choice between black and white and colour and the app has a timer counting down until your photo is ready.

This month’s guest weather watcher, NIWA principal scientist Chris Brandolino, says we can look forward to temperatures above normal during September and October in the Wakatipu. Rainfall is predicted to be near normal, or above normal, along with a tendency for west or northwest winds. There should be fewer southerlies although we can probably expect the odd cold snap to still occur during September and October, possibly even a late surprise snowfall, he says. “Even a good marriage can have a bad week. That doesn’t define the marriage,” quips Chris.

Overall, the Wakatipu should be continuing with its warmer than normal temperature tendencies.

Further out towards summer he says it looks like a La Niña weather pattern may be developing, which would be unusual, but not unheard of, as New Zealand experienced a La Niña last summer. If it eventuates, the whole country can expect warmer than average temperatures and above average ocean temperatures. “It’s early to say, but it could mean drier than normal conditions for the Wakatipu,” says Chris.

SEPTEMBER AVERAGES

8.8°C

153 hours

16 days

75 mm

SEPTEMBER RECORDS Highest Temperature 24.3°C (2006)

Highest Rainfall 218.9mm (2002)

Highest Sunshine 208 hours (1958)

Lowest Temperature -5°C (1981)

Lowest Rainfall 1.7mm (1974)

Heaviest Frost -12.6°C (1952)

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It is surprisingly exciting to receive a notification telling you your photo is ready 

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It helps to keep you in the moment instead of you spending time editing/ deleting and uploading photos to social media.

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THE FLYER.CO.NZ

STATISTICS TOTAL IMPRESSIONS

ONLINE READERSHIP

(Amount of exposed articles via

4,107

81.5K

from New Zealand Impressions

Google search)

26

QUEENSTOWN NEEDS MIGRANT WORKFORCE

hospitality workforce, including those who are on visas. These are initiatives that Immigration New Zealand should consider adopting,” says Julie. “The imminent home-based MIQ pilot will be a key to opening up access to migrant workers.”

The Queenstown Chamber of Commerce is looking to establish an employment hub locally amid major staffing concerns heading into the busy summer season with so many local migrant workers having left the district.

Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ruth Stokes says the Wakatipu had a population of about 10,000 migrant workers, almost a quarter of the district’s population, prior to the Covid crisis and lockdown last year. In April last year the number of employer assisted visas was around 2000 and currently the basin has only about half this number.Housing affordability and Queenstown’s relevant geographical isolation remain barriers to attracting Kiwi workers to the resort, says Ruth. Some local employers are becoming concerned that they’ll be short staffed heading into summer.

To add to local pressures there’s concern about Immigration New Zealand’s move to introduce the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, she says. This was to have been implemented from November 1, but it’s been held off until next year, however, with an unknown date. “It isn’t particularly clear what this accreditation process will fully entail, but there’s real concern about delays in getting any applications processed,” says Ruth. “The number of employers to be accredited will be huge and Immigration NZ may not have the staffing to cope.”

In addition to this, the new scheme proposes a fee for employers of about $500 to ‘job test’ any roles that employers want to fill with skilled migrant workers to ensure no Kiwis are suitable, says Ruth.

“They have to demonstrate that they can’t employ a New Zealander and there will be a fee with that. For large employers like hotels and construction companies locally that’ll be a huge cost.

While the government is encouraging employers to fill jobs with Kiwis, especially Maori, Pasifika, solo parents and people with health and disability issues, Ruth says housing costs and isolation from family and whanau and very low levels of unemployment generally make this more of a challenge locally.

The chamber hopes its proposed employment hub will help bring co-ordination and ensure local efforts to combat these problems are more effective. LUV Immigration co-owner and consultant Kay Luv has been running workshops locally and around the country to try and assist employers that employ a lot of migrant workers. This new proposed AEWV scheme and its unknowns are adding more stress to the equation, she says. “We will be short staffed when Queenstown reopens and the borders reopen, and the government needs to connect with what’s happening locally at ground level,” says Kay. “Those in the know are predicting more than 20,000 visa applications will hit Immigration New Zealand from migrant workers at that time and the department now has a smaller number of offices nationally.”

Hospitality is going to be a key test industry for this new system, but Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White agrees there’s still a real lack of detail. It’s very difficult to attract Kiwi staff at the moment, she says. Skilled roles, such as chefs, take time to train and with full employment we need to look at opening up the options to bring in more migrant workers again, says Julie. “We’re running parallel to a labour shortage so this is really important for our industry.”

“The recent extension of temporary visas has been a welcome relief for both employees and employers, but the reality is, we need more access to additional labour.” “We are now competing with countries like Australia and Canada who are actively targeting New Zealand’s

Queenstown Luv Immigration advisors and owners Zee and Kay Luv with their children, Europe, left, and Asia, right.

THE GOVERNMENT’S SAY The Prime Minister announced on August 12 the Government’s plan to gradually reopen New Zealand’s border. Manager of Immigration (Skills and Residence) Policy at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Andrew Craig says this will involve individual risk-based border settings that will establish low, medium and high risk pathways into the country from 2022. “However, as (Cabinet) Ministers mentioned earlier this year, when our borders reopen, we can’t afford to simply turn on the tap to the previous immigration settings,” says Andrew. “Sectors and employers need to continue coming up with creative and innovative ways to attract local talent and to explore alternative ways to produce goods and services.”

The new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which will be introduced mid-next year, supports a future economy that is less reliant on lower-paid temporary workers, better addresses productivity, skills and infrastructure challenges, and increases the skill levels of migrants, says Andrew. The new system will make it easier for businesses and regions to fill genuine skills shortages by simplifying the visa application process and removing, or streamlining, labour market tests for higher-paid roles, he says. The accreditation process for most employers involves a simple declaration. It will also give migrants more certainty about the visa process and the job they are coming to New Zealand for, he says.

“We know that some sectors are looking for more workers, but it’s important to note there is almost the same amount of migrant workers in New Zealand now as there was before COVID-19,” says Andrew. “What has gone down is the number of people on working holiday visas, and students who tend to make up the more casual workforces in some sectors. The Government has made a number of changes in recent months to support these sectors by allowing thousands of temporary workers to remain in New Zealand for longer.”

27

LIVING & WORKING IN FRANKTON FRANKTON LIBRARY OPENING HOURS

Join us for Storytime during Winter Pride.

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri: 9:00am-5:30pm Thursday: 9:00am-7:00pm Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm Remarkables House, 26 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton

We are delighted to welcome back Wellington’s world famous drag king, Hugo Grrrl, for a morning of stories and entertainment.

Free to attend – all welcome.

Bookings essential for larger groups.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Wanaka Library 10.30–11.30am Monday 30 August

FRANKTON

Queenstown Library 10.30–11.30am Thursday 2 September

Weekly clinic on Wednesdays 12.30pm-2.00pm Level 1, St Johns rooms, Douglas Street, Frankton This is a free service for those needing Justice of the Peace services. This is a pop in clinic so no appointment is necessary.

Due to this there may be some waiting.

Justices of the Peace do certified photo copies, can witness signatures, take declarations and affidavits.

Frankton Library 10.30–11.30am Friday 3 September

For more info please contact: WĀNAKA LIBRARY

QUEENSTOWN LIBRARY FRANKTON LIBRARY

codc-qldc.govt.nz

Winter Pride Community series supported by:

wanaka.library@qldc.govt.nz 03 443 0410 queenstown.library@qldc.govt.nz 03 441 0600 frankton.library@qldc.govt.nz 03 441 3680 @qtlakeslibraries @qldclibraries

SEPTEMBER GARDENING Six Kitchen Scraps to Use in the Garden - Even if You Don't Compost.

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Eggshells Use eggshells as seed-starter pots. (You'll want to plan ahead for this one and crack the eggshells close to one end to maximize "pot" size.)

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Coffee Grounds Coffee grounds can be used to set up a slug-deterring barrier.

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Banana Peels Bury small pieces of banana peels around plants, only an inch or two deep, to repel aphids. The key words here are “small pieces”—don’t get lazy and bury whole peels, unless you want to start attracting larger pests.

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Nut Shells If you’re a habitual peanut- or pistachioeater, save those nut shells for something other than dumping in the trash. They can be broken up into pieces and used as a thick layer that protects against weeds popping up.

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Cooking Water Don’t dump the water you used to boil an egg or blanch a vegetable—save it, let it cool, and fill up your watering can.

Your plants will thank you, and so will the greater earth, right?

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Spicy Peppers, Garlic, and Onion Save these potent scraps for warding off pests in your garden.