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Off to Daycare

This week marked a big milestone for us as Tobias started daycare. On Tuesday, I waved goodbye as he screamed out to me - feeling like the worst person ever.

We had been planning to put Tobias in daycare when he was just six months old. One year later and we have only just made the move.

We pushed it back from six months to nine months to 12 months and now to 17 months. Everytime we considered it, I always had doubts in the back of my mind.

But this time round was different. I couldn’t wait to finally have some time to myself.

I knew that Tobias would be in a great place with lots of exciting activities to keep him busy. Of course, that didn’t make leaving him any easier.

As I waved goodbye last Tuesday, the mumguilt came flooding back.

“What if he doesn’t settle?” “What if he doesn’t like it?” “Am I damaging his development?” I couldn’t shake these thoughts even though I knew they were totally irrational.

Instead of having that highly anticipated me time, I ended up spending the entire morning thinking of Tobias.

Leaving someone you have just spent the last 17 months attached to is one of the hardest things. Even though it was just a few hours, I couldn’t seem to relax.

The best part of the day was seeing how delighted he was when I returned. It’s going to take some getting used to but we’ll get there.

In fact, I actually think Tobias enjoyed his morning more than I did.

– By Daisy Watford

Crimeline

Eye on chemicals

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, is proposing changes to the way New Zealand manages chemicals to make sure their environmental impacts are not overlooked.

“On paper, there is a robust system in place to assess risks when a chemical is introduced to the country. But many chemicals that have been in use for decades have not been subject to close scrutiny. Much of the science on their environmental impact has changed,” the Commissioner says in a report released yesterday.

“The rules about how a chemical can be used shouldn’t be static – we need to be able to adapt as new information comes to light.

“Restrictions should be based on the latest science and informed by New Zealand-specific data on use and impact.”

The report, Knowing what’s out there: Regulating the environmental fate of chemicals, found that there are gaps in the way we monitor chemicals in the environment and in how we interpret their impact on living things.

Equally, there is little feedback from the monitoring that is undertaken to the chemical management system that determines how chemicals are used.

“While not all chemicals present a high level of concern, there is a lot we don’t know about chemicals reaching our environment, including how much is used, where they are used, and the effects they are having,” the Commissioner said.

“Finding out after chemicals have caused irrevocable impacts on the environment is too late.”

The Commissioner proposes that all agencies dealing with chemicals, alongside Māori, develop a common framework to better manage the environmental impacts of chemical use.

LETTERS

Double trouble

I arrived to a Wānaka in 1972 a town that had a small population of just 800 people. It was a small community based on farming with just a little seasonal tourism added to it. Most of the year, it felt ‘empty’, apart from a very busy Christmas holiday season, and just the four days of Easter. Our holiday visitors were almost 100 per cent New Zealanders.

Probably 50 per cent of Wānaka’s few businesses were unviable, so eventually failed or got by with owners working massive hours for a very poor return. People thought: if we could double our population, all our businesses could be profitable.

So, the years went by, and eventually the population doubled. Alas, not only did the population double, but also so did the number of businesses. So still 50 per cent of the businesses were unviable.

More years past and the population doubled again, and guess what? So did the number of businesses and still half of them were unviable.

We are now in the process of our population doubling yet again and I fear that yet once again, the need for every business to be profitable will demand that the doubling of the population will go on for ever!

And now we have a proposal for a massive film studio to be established near our town.

In another 20-30 years’ time when you younger adult readers lament that the lovely village of Wānaka has gone forever, it will be your fault because you thought that if we could just double the size of Wānaka’s population just once again, everybody will be rich. It won’t happen.

Stuart Landsborough

Wānaka C Calvin Bopp

Constable, NZPD

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. Select which applies to you when reading this at whatever time of day you choose to peruse my ramblings.

It’s late on a Sunday evening as I sum up the week’s happenings for you. Bit of an odd week to be honest, there is a real different air about. A sombre mood, I think.

On Monday, patrols were done around schools focusing on road safety. A fraud complaint was taken where a substantial sum of money was involved. An individual was also given assistance with resolving a warrant for their arrest. A timely reminder that if you receive a court date, then attend said court date, lest you find yourself checking into casa de Queenstown Police Cells for the night.

On Tuesday night an adventure bike was stolen from an address on Upton Street. If you noticed anything suspicious around then, drop us a line.

On Thursday there was a crash on the Crown Range. Thankfully no major injuries to those involved, but a reminder to all to take care on the roads. A report was taken where a lost Eftpos card was used to the tune of a couple hundred dollars. A simple fix for this is to put a hold on your card until it is back safe in your hands. In the evening there was a re-enactment of Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, where the new roundabout by BP was the main feature. This version didn’t do quite so well as the original, with the driver off to court and their car impounded. Save those sorts of shenanigans for the PlayStation, I reckon.

On Friday we did some gardening. By gardening I mean removing cannabis plants that an avid botanist was cultivating in the wilds. A checkpoint was conducted in the evening and no drink drivers were found – a pleasing thing. An inebriated cyclist was found to have fallen off their bike after sinking a few too many cold ones. We assisted in dropping them off home and on the way, located their mate who had also come asunder off their bike due to similar circumstances. They were taken away in an ambulance though so a bit more serious.

On Saturday we were called to a drunken man who was fighting at an address. Upon arrival, it turns out alcohol was consumed but the only fight going on was playfighting and the call to ambulance was for the man’s potentially dislocated shoulder. Safe to say we weren’t there for very long once we’d figured out what had gone on.

A chunk of time was taken up with trying to solve the problem of stranded 4x4 enthusiasts on the Hawkdun Range. They were rescued the following day.

Some of our team have been and returned from Wellington with more going this week. They’re off to support our colleagues up there in some atrocious conditions. I’ve been told that our area (Wānaka, Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra) have been punching above their weight in terms of the number of people going up compared to our total number of staff.

This is cool to hear because it means that our community have police who not only care about their own towns, but also with keeping the public safe in other places as well as supporting out of town colleagues. Just wanted to share that with you guys.

Have a great week everyone.

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun News The great tracks of Wānaka

The article was provided by the Mountain Safety Council which has been working for more than 50 years to encourage safe participation in landbased outdoor activities throughout New Zealand. They do this through the development and promotion of safety messaging, by identifying and responding to insights provided by the ongoing collection and analysis of data and by building partnerships with relevant organisations. For more details go to mountainsafety.org.nz

As a triathlete, multi-sport and adventure athlete, and 2022 Coast To Coast champion, Braden Currie’s training is his full-time job, so it is no wonder he knows Wānaka’s mountains and tracks like the back of his hand.

Braden has shared his favourite and very accessible tracks for everyone to enjoy, plus what he packs on an average day of training.

“We have lived in Wānaka for 10 years now and it’s close to every day that we acknowledge how lucky we are to call this place home.

“Having the ability to step out your door and access the mountains, lakes and rivers is incredible and as family we try our best to make the most of any spare time, we have by enjoying what’s around us,” he said.

“As a triathlete I swim, bike and run for my job. I train 30-40 hours per week, and I treat my training as a job, trying to do the best I can in each session. Like any job it has its moments, but there is still a huge amount of passion that goes into what I do. I love trail running and if there is a long trail run on my programme, I know that if I get it done I will feel better for it mentally and it will help fuel the rest of the day.

If he is heading into the hills, he always takes certain items, no matter how short the run is.

“I have spent enough time in the mountains to know that things can turn pear-shaped pretty quickly and I also might find myself in a position where I end up helping someone else out. So for me, I would prefer to have extra weight in my bag if it could come in handy.”

The list includes a Macpac Amp Ultra 10litre running vest, The Garmin inReach Mini which allows him to text or call in no mobile reception areas, An e-perb or a Personal Locator Beacon, rain jacket, Geotech long sleeve thermal and pants, gGloves and a hat, first aid kit with a survival blanket, food and water, as well as a packet of Radix dehydrated food “just in case I end up out there for a while”.

“All of this stuff just stays in my run bag, that way I can just grab it when I head out the door.”

Here are some of Braden’s regular favourite trail runs and solid hikes around Wānaka:

Motatapu Track - 16km

This track is great when the weather is hot! There's a few kilometres of exposed farmland at the start, but then you get deep into the native forest where it’s shaded and cool. I love technical terrain and there is plenty of it here. It’s an undulating run alongside the river until you get closer to the hut. I normally run in and out to Fern Burn hut for a long run, but you can keep going past the hut and turn around anytime.

Grandview Mountain Track – 18km

Grandview is a good option when it’s windy as it’s mostly protected from the northwest winds and isn’t too technical. The first 4km are along the flat and then it gradually climbs up a 4WD track to a high point. The views over Lake Hāwea are pretty epic.

The Millennium Track - 12km

I love this track, especially first thing in the morning. It’s often protected from the wind in most parts and gets the morning sun. The trail is in good condition and despite the undulations it’s a pretty fast trail to run on.

Rob Roy Track – 10km

It’s a longish drive out to the track but it’s worth it. I normally build in some extra running by running into Mount Aspiring Hut and back as well as doing the Rob Roy track to make the drive worth it. But it’s one of the region’s most beautiful trails. It has recently been worked on and the trail is wide and not very technical.

Mount Isthmus – 16km

More of a hike than a run! It’s steep from beginning to end but a solid 2-3 hour fast walk journey which is good for your legs and gives you incredible views across Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka. Most of it is on a 4WD drive track so it’s not technical.

Breast Hill Track - distance varies

This run/hike is as long as you want it to be.

PHOTO: Roy Schott

Braden Currie says the Breast Hill track is spectacular- and technical. But if you make it up to the first hut you're doing well. It’s spectacular and very technical on the first ascent up the rocks. More of a scramble than anything for the first part.

Skyline Track - 23km

The skyline track is about 23km from start to finish. You need to do a car shuttle as it’s a one-way track that finishes either at the bottom of Mt Roy or in the Cardona Valley (depending on which way you go). I prefer starting at Spots Creek in the Cardrona Valley as the first 8km approximately is a bit of a slow grind through farmland. After that it gets interesting. You start to get up to the tops along a 4WD track before traversing between Isthmus and Mt Roy peaks. This is my favourite bit. It’s exposed and can be pretty windy, and it’s technical terrain but there’s nothing more magic than being up there on a good day. From Mt Roy you begin your 8km descent on a consistent gradient down to the bottom.

Braden Currie says “if I can offer advice for anyone who wants to get out there but finds it hard being organised, have everything accessible and ready for when you want it, makes the process of getting outdoors that much easier”.

“When you have spare time at home, spend the time making up tubs of gear for different activities. I have a hiking 'tub', a biking tub, a climbing 'tub', a water sports 'tub', to name a few of them. The goal in life for me is to make sure I have everything I need for any sport. This is where my family and I put all our value in terms of what we choose to spend money on. It brings us more quality time together as a family and memories we will always have, which makes it priceless for us. “If you’re lacking track inspiration, the Plan My Walk app by the NZ Mountain Safety Council helps with that. You can find a track near you, enter your trip dates and find out if there are any track alerts. Another important planning step is the weather forecast and the app’s interactive gear list. You can then put all of that into a trip plan, assign an emergency contact, share it and you’re ready to go.”

Queenstown festival confirmed

Queenstown’s Whakatipu Music Festival has been given the green light.

Established and emerging New Zealand performers will take the stage at Queenstown’s Memorial Centre from April 15 to 18 Showcasing classical, jazz and Taonga Pūoro.

New Zealand musicians Madeleine Pierard (soprano), Robin Wilson (violin), Bridget Douglas (flute), Andrew Joyce (cello) and Stephen de Pledge (piano) will perform over the weekend.

They will be joined by Tararua, a contemporary quartet who combine Taonga Pūoro (Māori instruments) with waiata, karakia, pūrākau (story), and western instruments.

Executive Director Anne Rodda says the event fosters talent and provides opportunities for a musicians and those who are interested in the arts.

“With events dwindling, it’s important now more than ever to be supporting artists and creative industries with opportunities like this.”

“The festival by nature is a sum of many parts which means it can proceed, safely and meaningfully even under any capacity restrictions,” says Anne.

Feds back broadband decision

The announcement of a big push to upgrade capacity on congested rural broadband networks gets a big thumbs up from Federated Farmers. "Every year Feds surveys members on broadband and cellphone coverage in rural areas, to gather data on the worst blackspots and inform our advocacy to government," Federated Farmers NZ President and telecommunications spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says. "The frustration of farming families whose businesses, distance education and everyday activities are hampered by poor or sometimes non-existent services comes through loud and clear. "So news that upgrades to existing cell towers and construction of new towers should see 47,000 rural households and businesses experience faster internet speeds and better reception by the end of 2024 will come as a relief."

Agricultural production, and meeting the swathes of new regulations and requirements coming at farmers on freshwater protection, greenhouse gas emissions and more, increasingly relied on fast and reliable internet connectivity, he said.

He noted the government had just acknowledged, COVID restrictions - with more remote health consultations, remote learning and maintaining family connections - had added new layers of demand. "The Rural Capacity Upgrade will help, so kudos to the government."