16 - 22 May 2019 | Edition 922

Horsewhisperer graces Wanaka

INSIDE THIS WEEK Sport: Page 11 Views: Page 15 Jobs: Page 15

Learning the language of your horse.

PAGE 2

Container scheduled to go The eyesore will be no more.

PAGE 3

thewanakasun.co.nz

THUR 16.05.19 - WED 22.05.19

DELIVERED AND FREE

EDITION 922

Wanaka’s royal full house Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

A

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

rchie Davison (9), Archie Popperwell (5), Archie Beaton (5, not pictured), Harrison Lovelock (8) and Harrison Black (6); five Wanaka boys who share their moniker with the latest little royal, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

School boys are not prone to being even the faintest bit impressed by royalty but did think it was just a little bit cool to share the royal name. Archie Popperwell’s mum, Sarah Willsher, says her gran used to love watching the British show, ‘Monarch of the Glen’ whose lead character was ‘Archie.’ They then found the name in their family history and happily settled on ‘Archie’ when their bundle of joy arrived.

For Archie Davison, he believes the choice of name wasn’t quite so thought-out for his parents. “When I popped out I just looked like an Archie,” he said.

Harrison Lovelock says his parents just liked the name but he often gets called Harry by family.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the popularity of babies being named Archie and Harrison have risen over the last decade, ranking closely to one another in 2018 on the top 100 list. “Archie came in at 23rd with 138 babies taking the name, and Harrison was close behind at 28th with 128 babies given the moniker.”

The latest royal baby will likely spark a new naming trend for Archie and Harrison, much as his father’s did.

Following the Duke’s birth in 1984, the name Harry steadily climbed the popularity charts, ascending from eight babies taking the title in 1985 to 127 in 2014.

Pictured from left: Archie Davison, Archie Popperwell, Harrison Lovelock and Harrison Black (not pictured: the very cute but camera-shy, Archie Beaton).

Laws comes out swinging at ‘racist’ council Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

C

ouncillor Michael Laws has issued a statement strongly condemning the recommendations to Otago Regional Council, that local iwi being given two voting and paid seats on ORC’s policy committee. Laws says this recommendation is “so privileged, and

so obviously racist, that it calls into question the fundamental principles of democracy in Otago.”

Yesterday, Wednesday May 15, ORC received a senior executive management paper that recommended two positions on the council’s policy committee be reserved exclusively for iwi (specifically Otakau Runanga) representatives; that they be accorded full speaking and voting rights; that they be paid on the same pro rata

basis as elected councillors; and that those positions be appointed by the local runanga.

Laws calls this “an extraordinary assault upon democracy. It is a recommendation that embraces all the PC nonsense of our age but misrepresents both logic and law in advancing such racial privilege.”

“Whatever injustice Maori might have received in the past, can’t be corrected by empowering

their descendants to have additional powers and privileges, that are simply unavailable to the ordinary Otago person. And the greatest irony is that this privilege is denied to not only all Pakeha in Otago, all Asian and Pasifika folk, all other races and cultures, but also all non-iwi (Ngai Tahu) Maori. It’s a backdoor way of getting not Maori wards, but iwi-only wards.”

Continued on page 3

Wanaka 5 Maggies Way

Wanaka 77 Meadowstone Drive

Albert Town 14 Hebbard Court

For Sale Enquiries over $999,000 bayleys.co.nz/224591

For Sale $799,000 bayleys.co.nz/224720

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 4pm, Thu 13 Jun 2019, 62 Ardmore St, Wanaka bayleys.co.nz/224739

Sharon Donnelly P 0508 DONNELLY

No.

E sharon.donnelly@bayleys.co.nz

MAT ANDREWS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

RESIDENTIAL

SALESPERSON

NATIONWIDE 2016 / 2017

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Horse whisperer, Tui Teka, graces Wanaka

PHOTO: Supplied

Wanaka nurses recognised at Otago Excellence Awards ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wanaka nurses were celebrated in an awards ceremony on Monday to recognise and honour innovation and outstanding practice in the Otago nursing professional community.

Aspiring Enliven Care Centre's clinical manager Madeleine Esdaile won the Presbyterian Support Otago Award at the Otago Nursing Excellence Awards, held at the Otago Polytechnic Hub in Dunedin.

Elmslie House clinical coordinator Kim Taylor was listed as one of the five finalists.

Aspiring Enliven Wanaka manager Jacqui Boylen said she was thrilled with the success. "Having two of our best nurses in the final was fantastic, and for Madeleine to take out the top award was the icing on the cake,"

she said. "I am very fortunate to have two such accomplished professionals leading the nursing teams at Aspiring and Elmslie."

The awards are held bi-annually in Otago alternating with Southland; the event offers a chance for nurses to gather together and celebrate innovation, clinical excellence, leadership and research.

“We are thrilled to recognise the significant contribution our nurses make to improve the health and wellbeing of our community,” says Southern District Health Board chief nursing and midwifery officer Jane Wilson. “We know there’s incredible commitment to improve and advance nursing practice, and this celebration provided an opportunity for nurses’ contributions to be properly recognised.”

Pictured: (From left) Jacqui Boylen, Madeleine Esdaile and Kim Taylor.

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The newly established equestrian centre on the outskirts of town, Grace Farms, is currently hosting Tui Teka Better Horsemanship clinics. Grace Farms is a stunning new facility that has been established by expat Americans who now reside in Wanaka, Mike and Rhoda Mountz, a few minutes past Lavender Farm on the Wanaka-Luggate Highway.

In what has to be the most stunning horse paddocks on the globe, Tui Teka (grandson of legendary performer, Prince Tui Teka) is offering horsemanship clinics--lessons in understanding and communicating in the language of a horse.

Rachel Thomas, Grace Farms manager, says the clinics are designed for riders of all ages to communicate with their horses and have proven hugely popular, with all the group clinics and private lessons booked out. Tui Teka is so popular that “people just want to keep coming back,” she said. “It’s an unmissable opportunity to have Tui share his knowledge and experience.”

Tui Teka says, “horses were a way of life for me as a kid from Tokomaru, north of Gisborne. It wasn’t

recreational, artificial or competitive… for me growing up it was a way of life. I rode to school on horseback. All our mates would just go diving and take our horses with us. And it’s been a passion from an early age.”

Tui Teka Better Horsemanship offers two clinics: ‘Awakening’ which establishes body control from the ground up and gains the horse’s trust, then transfers the energy from the rider through to the horse. The second clinic is ‘Fusion’, which fuses the horse’s different zones to the rider’s body in a responsive and positive manner.

“It’s a passion,” said Tui Teka. “I always have a feeling, and learn how the horses learn, so then I can teach people how horses feel. It’s about getting people to engage. Horses are easier than people—that’s for sure.”

Tui Teka said that Wanaka is a great place to teach because it’s a horse-riding community with kids learning to ride from a young age.

Whilst all the clinics are now booked out, Grace Farms looks forward to hosting Tui Teka again in the future. Pictured: A private lesson with Queensberry and Tarras families. From left, Angus Smith, Beau Maclachlan, Tui Teka, Duke Maclachlan, Sophie Smith and Clara Smith.

Telemedicine clinic confusion clarified Emma Conyngham n, Os lo

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

^

as us , Li ber ty

i Ka ce uri Ma

g Pe

Warwick, Bambino

Right now, Guthrie Bowron are offering free curtain making on thousands of quality fabrics*.

And, we’ll even come to you for a free in-home measure and quote^. Get in quick, order confirmations must in by 10 June 2019.

So come and choose your new curtains today with your local decorating specialists, Guthrie Bowron.

28 Reece Crescent, Wanaka

Ph 03 443 8176 *Selected ranges only. Applies to fabrics over $39.95 per metre with a maximum width of 150cm, or $69 and over for wide width fabrics. Minimum drop of 160cm applies. Excludes Roman Blinds and componentry. Orders must be confirmed by 10 June 2019 to be eligible for the offer. ^Travel distance parameters may apply. Please contact the store for more details.

PAGE 2

Confusion over access and use of Wanaka’s maternal telemedicine clinic has been clarified by the Southern District Health Board (SDHB). When the system was set up earlier this year, it was met with much relief by midwives in Wanaka and across the Central Otago region. Instead of driving to Dunedin for a 20-minute appointment, often with other small children in the car (and a need to wee every 15 minutes), then driving back, women have been able to facetime obstetricians in Dunedin from Wanaka.

When the system started, midwives from across Central Otago were referring their clients to Wanaka and were under the impression they had full right to do so.

Charlotte Aarden from Central Otago Midwives, based in Alexandra said “Our understanding was that the Wanaka teleclinic was inclusive for the whole Central Otago region and we were not aware that it was a trial, and we were not aware the trial had been cut off to us.”

Aarden said she was surprised by the change of policy but has yet to be informed of the status.

“The policy has changed but we haven't had word from the DHB we only heard through rumours from clients that it had been cut off to women in Alex.”

Mary Cleary Lyons general manager of Primary Care and Population Health at SDHB acknowledges

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

that the communication lines failed and that correct information had never been given. “The telemedicine clinic was set up for women in Wanaka as there is a clinic in Dunstan Hospital. But as it is over subscribed, midwives were referring their clients through to Wanaka. But we didn’t know they were doing that so we never gave specific instructions not to,” she said. “But now the Wanaka telemedicine clinic is also over-subscribed and it simply can’t handle numbers of women being referred through.”

Cleary Lyons admits says the demand for obstetric outpatient appointments is growing and SDHB is working to provide enough obstetric appointments to the region which is undergoing rapid population growth. The geographic isolation of Wanaka, and other towns in Central Otago make it a challenge for service provision. Cleary Lyons said Southern DHB is currently implementing its strategy for primary maternity services for the district but emphasises that the Wanaka telemedicine clinic is only for Wanaka women and that Central Otago has access to the Dunstan outpatient service. Over the next two years, the SDHB intends to expand the availability of telemedicine obstetric clinics to support women in rural areas throughout the district including Central Otago.

A SDHB spokeswoman acknowledges that midwives outside of Wanaka were not never properly informed and said “that is a miscommunication which we will fix. I totally understand how it happened and will have to clarify.”

THE WANAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun News

Container scheduled to go

PHOTO: Sarah Rowlands/Simon Larkin

Wanaka Recreation Centre captures international attention for design ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wanaka Recreation Centre (WRC) is gaining international recognition after opening its doors just under three years ago. The community facility is shortlisted in the 2019 INDE.Awards, which celebrate the Indo-Pacific region’s most progressive design and architecture.

WRC is the only project from New Zealand that is shortlisted with seven others in the award’s Wellness Space category. It is also only one of two buildings in the whole of Aotearoa among 126 projects selected across 13 categories and 14 countries. More than 430 projects were entered this year, which is an increase of 43 percent year-on-year from 2017.

“Sport and recreation hubs, like WRC, play a key role in strengthening social connections across the district and improving the well-being of our community,” said Thunes Cloete, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) general manager community services. “Good design ensures that these facilities provide a welcoming, inclusive space that incorporates the latest architectural thinking in tune with the local environment.”

QLDC owns and operates the $12.3 WRC, which opened in July 2016 with a two-court indoor stadium, outdoor turf, changing rooms, meeting rooms and a reception area; an adjoining threepool aquatic facility was completed last June. The building’s design allows for opportunities to extend

the centre as demand increases.

“This latest recognition is a testament to all our project partners, especially Warren and Mahoney [Architects] for designing a multi-use centre that creates a sense of belonging and encourages participation, and also to the Upper Clutha community who visit in increasing numbers to swim, keep active and enjoy the space,” said Cloete.

“A notable shift towards the wellness trend in New Zealand has resulted in a need for multi-use sports and recreation spaces,” said Warren and Mahoney principal Daryl Maguire. “Appealing to this community call, the Wanaka Recreation Centre creates a sense of belonging and encourages participation from all community members with a combination of sports courts and aquatic space under one roof. The resulting design is a calming and inviting environment encompassing all elements of wellness and healthy lifestyle.

Public engagement on a WRC and Queenstown Events Centre join masterplan will occur later this year to allow local clubs, groups and community members to help form the future development of the district's council-managed sports and recreation facilities.

Winners will be announced at the third annual 2019 INDE.Awards Gala, hosted in Melbourne, Australia, on June 21.

Pictured: The aquatic facility at Wanaka Recreation Centre, which is shortlisted for the 2019 INDE.Awards in the Wellness Space category.

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Following last week’s article ‘Container mystery not solved yet’ Queenstown Lakes District Council has explained that the temporary capsule was installed on Wanaka’s lakefront on Tuesday December 18, 2018 to provide seating, shade, and a people-friendly space during the busy period of the year.

“It was also intended as an informal way of sharing visuals for the Lakefront development, and information panels of the plan were placed inside the capsule, which were removed over time. More were intended specifically to show Stage Two of the Lakefront Development Plan, and a programme of work. The intention of the capsule was then for it to be removed before construction

Laws comes out swinging at ‘racist’ council

of Stage Two of the Wanaka Lakefront Development Plan began, within the three-month restriction.”

“However, following agreement by the Wanaka Community Board to pause Stage Two of the Wanaka Lakefront Development Plan to align considerations for parking with options presented as part of the Wanaka Town Centre Masterplan, the capsule has remained in this location longer than first planned.

“The capsule’s removal has been scheduled and it will be removed within the fortnight, and relocated in the future to align with focus on Stage Three of the Wanaka Lakefront Development Plan, and once again to share visuals for people to see what the development will be delivering for the wider community.” Pictured: the container in question will be gone within a fortnight.

REUSE

Continued from page 1

The Wanaka Sun asked Laws how previous injustices should be addressed, if policy committee seats were not a solution that suited his perspective.

He replied, “Any transgressions re the Treaty and Ngai Tahu were sorted by act of Parliament in early 1990s. I was on the Maori Affairs committee that sat hearing submissions on the bill and on the Sealords deal that provided Ngai Tahu with their current asset base. In other words, the grievance was righted then, by law, and agreed.

“This is not that. This is about improving Maori participation in the democratic process and you don’t do that by gifting them seats based upon ethnicity with NO public consultation whatsoever.

“As mayor of a council in a previous life, I initiated a separate Maori committee that could provide a viewpoint on matters related to council, but that did not include giving a governance role.

The current ORC proposal is iwi advantage over every other person resident in Otago. Anybody can stand for council and be elected—no one is currently gifted a seat on the basis of being one part of the community.”

In response to Laws’ criticism, ORC Chair Stephen Woodhead said, “We have had a Memorandum of Understanding in place with local Runanga since 2003 which outlines how we develop our planning documents working with our iwi partners.

“Recent discussion on how we could enhance our relationship resulted in a request from the four local Runanga Chairs for ORC to consider

THE WANAKA SUN

PHOTO: supplied

appointment of iwi representatives to our policy committee. While the recommendation to approve iwi representation on our Policy Committee is yet to be discussed, this way of welcoming the voice of iwi around the table would reflect not only past practice (council previously had iwi representation on the Technical Committee) but also our statutory responsibilities to consult with iwi in planning policy. This is an opportunity to enhance our relationship with local Rûnanga in a meaningful way.”

UPDATE: As going to press, the Wanaka Sun was notified that the recommendation for two seats to be given to iwi, was passed by seven votes to three.

Pictured; Councillor Michael Laws.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

PAGE 3

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Local Olympian carves out time for education ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wanaka-based Olympic freestyle skier Beau-James Wells is perfecting the sport of having a contingency plan. With many focused athletes working tirelessly in a professional sports career that can be met with a short shelf-life, their young retirement years can leave them in a transitional period of wondering, “what do I do now?”

Wells is no stranger to that internal dialogue, especially when an injury forced him to take a year off the snow three years ago. He decided to use the downtime to study, and now he is pursuing a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise with a major in Exercise Prescription and Training, at Massey University.

In his first year at uni, the 23-yearold Wells is preparing himself for a career path after sports. “In 2016, I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my knee and

had to take a year off to recover, so I decided to study personal training because it was something I thought I would enjoy. A year later, I became fully qualified, and I loved it so much I decided to continue studying. I’m really stoked that I’m able to study away from campus too, as it’s enabled me to start my own personal training business in Wanaka and put my studies into practice.”

Wells, who is studying from his home and working out of Snap Fitness Wanaka, said it can be hard to balance elite sport with work and study. “I was homeschooled all my life by my mother who was a teacher by trade, so I’m used to doing my work at home, he said. “As of late, it has been about finding a good worklife balance; maybe not prioritising hanging out with mates some nights, in order to get an assignment done.

However, in the long run, I know it’s going to be worth it.

Wells told the Wanaka Sun that,

despite being passionate about his sporting career, it is important to work on other aspects of life in order to create a well-rounded individual.

“I think it builds character and makes you a more interesting person. I am a qualified personal trainer and have started my own business; this way I can still be a part of the sporting world and fitness industry because that is what I love, and I want to be doing something that I love for the rest of my life. I decided to study at Massey just to further my learning while I am still skiing.”

Wells, who placed fourth in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, has his sights set on making his mark at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in China.

Pictured: Wanaka-based Olympic freestyle skier Beau-James Wells is pursuing a Bachelor of Sports and Exercise with a major in Exercise Prescription and Training at Massey University.

Trust shifts to multi-year funding scheme ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Otago Community Trust (OCT) awarded $1.6 million in its April round of grants; the significant amount of granting falls in line with the trust's decision to start providing multiyear funding offerings to certain service providers.

Trust chair Ross McRobie said the benefits of multi-year funding for grantees include greater funding security and a reduction in the ‘funding burden’ on grantees, such as time spent reapplying for grants.

McRobie said the trust is interested in making a difference for well-established organisations that can consistently demonstrate a

"best-practice delivery, robust governance and leadership and sound financial management."

“It has been a significant shift for us to look at granting this way; multi-year funding can have significant cost implications for grantmakers," he said. “We went through a very careful exercise in terms of the long-term implications and the financial commitment of the trust.”

Thus, OCT launched the multi-year funding to only four social service agencies this year: Anglican Family Care, Methodist Mission Southern, Otago Youth Wellness Trust and Presbyterian Support Otago; the organisations will receive a total of $995,000 over three years for their Otago services and programmes.

Trust chief executive Barbara

The Informant Welcome to the new look Informant. We have recently re-branded as Findex. Same folk with a new name.

The last article I wrote covered off the wider aspects of the proposals released by the Tax Working Group (TWG). This article was intended to follow up on the specific proposals surrounding the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) aspects of the TWG report. The Governments response to the TWG report on the 17th April has put the introduction of CGT tax off the radar. This will be a relief to many. From my reading of the TWG proposals taxpayers holding NZ and Australian shares, rental properties, commercial properties and rural land would have been most affected. These parties will mostly be off the hook now. The government still intends to explore the taxation of vacant land further by focusing on speculators in particular. Bringing this type of land transaction into the scope of taxation from the Governments perspective will mean some significant changes will need to be made to our taxation laws.

Presently there are the 5 year Brightline residential land sale rules, the general land tax rules covering off intention to sell at time of purchase, land dealers, land developers and land sub-division etc etc. The Brightline test has given rise to more certainty by taxing property

PAGE 4

Bridger said the long-term funding approach offers certainty and benefits to providers by allowing them to remain focused on their service delivery as opposed to diverting resources each year to reapply for funding.

Waitaki Safer Community Trust also benefited in the April funding round with a $49,536 grant to advance its Waitaki Family Harm Reduction Programme.

Cromwell Early Learning Centre received a $20,000 grant, and Otago Youth Adventure Trust Inc received $35,000 to upgrade its facilities at the Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre in the Catlins.

Outward Bound New Zealand and the Otago Medical Research Foundation were also approved for regular annual grants.

sales due to its application being driven off ownership timelines and being applied to “residential property”.

Residential property is well defined. The other sections of the Income Tax Act that back up the Brightline rules are often hard to interpret and focus on such things as “intention at time of purchase”. Intention is hard to either prove or disprove in a lot of situations depending on which side of the argument you are on. Measuring this “Intention” has made it hard to give the IRD certainty when reviewing property transactions. For this reason the revenue believe there is a degree of non-compliance on declaring of taxable gains made on property. It will be interesting to see what proposals come forward from the Tax Policy Working Group (TPWG) reviewing this issue.

Framers will be relieved to know that inputs (fertiliser) taxation and water pollution rules have been deferred in the interim as part of the TPWG recommendations.

The Government has responded stating the TPWG is currently considering these issues. Once again watch this space.

The TPWG will review a lot of the simplification measures recommended by the TWG. These recommendations looked at increasing a number of compliance thresholds and should make it easier for smaller businesses to comply with their taxation obligations. Hopefully a lot of these recommendations get adopted as they were

PHOTO: Supplied

Ballantyne Road gets multi-million dollar upgrade ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A section of Wanaka's Ballantyne Road will receive a $6.4 million improvement, including road sealing and a one-metre wide shoulder for pedestrians and cyclists.

The road's upgrade to meet modern safety standards will also include a low-speed environment with paint markings, plantings or other "traffic calming" methods within the project.

Queenstown Lakes District Council general manager property and infrastructure Peter Hansby said the NZ Transport Agency agreed to fund 50 percent of the project.

“Upgrading any legacy road is a difficult balancing act," said Hansby, who is thrilled with the news. "We have worked very closely with the Transport Agency and many people in the Wanaka community to agree [on] a preferred design that strikes a balance between safety, community requirements, active travel and

affordability."

The construction is scheduled to start in 2020-21 after a detailed design has been completed and additional community input collected.

The news comes as a big relief to many locals, including Mt Barker residents who have been pushing for an upgrade to this section of the road for nearly 10 years.

Wanaka Community Board (WCB) member Ed Taylor said the project decision is a victory for the perseverance of the Mt Barker Residents Association who, he said, refused to take “no” for an answer.

"At my first meeting out at Mt Barker, I was told in no uncertain terms that their number one priority was getting the road sealed because it was a dangerous road," said Taylor. "WCB chairman Quentin Smith and I have worked hard to keep the residents in the loop as much as possible.

We involved them in meetings with council staff late last year as the business case was being prepared.”

well thought out and made sense.

Switching tact a little to other recent changes that impact upon businesses. The IRD has released its new cloud platform. The IRD taking down its entire platform over the Easter / ANZAC week with the new system coming back online as promised was a great result. The new system now has the ability to handle all taxation types and makes for easier communication between taxpayers and the IRD. Accident Corporation has completed a review of the past levies charged on an “interim basis”. On the odd occasion no final leviable earnings were earned therefore the interim invoice was never due and payable.

Some of these refunds will date back a long time and the entity gaining the refund has been wound up. This still doesn’t prevent you from receiving the refund you are entitled to. You will need to complete a declaration as shareholder of the previous entity however. Staying on the ACC theme they are now generating invoices once your earnings are finalised with the IRD. No interim invoices will be issued until earnings are final. This is a positive change.

For employers 6th May brings automatic fines for those who don’t have a written employment agreement for their employees. This includes casual and permanent staff alike.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

Shane Gibson Principal - Business Advisory Audit | Tax | Advisory Main: +64 3 443 0086 Direct: +64 3 443 0832 Email: shane.gibson@findex.co.nz www.findex.co.nz Ground Floor, Brownston House, 21 Brownston Street, Wanaka 9305 PO Box 104, Wanaka 9343

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Wanaka’s first private guiding business honours Maori history ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A new private touring business with connections to the original Maori escort for the Southern Lakes' first European explorer is taking root in Wanaka.

REKO Private Guides kicked off at Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand in Rotorua this week. The guiding company creates offthe-beaten track tour and transfer packages that cater to the premium market; the experience prices are tailored to individual requirements.

Mark Orbell, owner of Wanaka's Ridgeline Adventures, co-founded the company with his sister, Cate Gibb. Orbell's family has lived in the region since the 1860s gold rush.

He said that authentic, value-overvolume experiences are the future for the country's tourism industry and Wanaka community due to their positive impact on customers and the environment.

Orbell told the Wanaka Sun, “We will have a very strong conservation focus for REKO Private Guides; we're already working with local conservation groups on a number of projects and plan to build on that to help protect our unique natural environment we are privileged to live in.”

He said REKO’s formation is supported also by a growing list of trade partners searching out absolute unique, tailored experiences for their high net-worth clients.

"Tourism New Zealand has also identified the biggest growth opportunities exist with the top 10 percent of the world’s wealthy.

REKO offers bespoke tourism experiences with genuine Kiwi hospitality, delivered with passion by authentic local storytellers."

OUR PEOPLE OUR DOCTORS

PHOTO: Supplied

REKO is named after the Ngai Tahu guide Reko, who led Nathanael Chalmers to Wanaka and Queenstown in 1853. Reko was a Maori who had established a ferrying business for European explorers from his home in Tuturau, and Chalmers was the first European to see the Queenstown Lakes area during his exploration. Reko agreed to help Chalmers explore some of the South Island in search of farmland in a trade for Chalmers’ three-legged cast-iron cooking pot, which has since been donated to the Southland Museum.

Through Orbell's research of Reko’s story, he made contact with Reko’s 84-year-old great-grandson, Alexander Reko Hesselin, who granted permission to use the name after the two men visited Reko's grave in Tuturau.

"After some correspondence, Mark and I met in January 2019; by this time I had been doing my own research and found that Mark’s family was on a similar basis to mine regarding early settler establishment in the South Island of New Zealand," said Hesselin. "We got on well, and I agreed to the use of Reko’s name with Mark as I see it as another way of ensuring that Reko’s story will be positively retained in the future. So far there are two in my whanau bearing the Reko name, so long may it go on."

Orbell said it is a privilege to have received the family blessing from a significant person in the New Zealand’s early history.

Pictured: REKO Private Guides co-owner Mark Orbell (left) with the great-grandson of Reko, Alexander Reko Hesselin, at Reko’s burial site in Tuturau, Southland.

New waste collection service underway ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

With Upper Clutha residents scheduled to receive their new rubbish and recycling wheelie bins starting this week, the Wanaka Sun pulled together an update on what residents ought to know in anticipation of the Queenstown Lakes District’s waste collection service change.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) confirmed that Upper Clutha residents will start receiving their new bins starting today (Thursday) through approximately June 19. In collaboration with Waste Management New Zealand Ltd and Wanaka Wastebusters on the new service, each household will be delivered with two 140-litre bins, for separate glass recycling and rubbish, and one 240-litre bin for mixed recycling.

Until the new ratepayer-funded kerbside collection service starts district-wide on July 1, residents will need to continue to use their blue rubbish bags and black recycling crates; however, refunds will not be available for unused rubbish bags once the new service begins.

“When your new bins arrive, please check the number on your bin matches your property as they are tagged and allocated to your address,” said

THE WANAKA SUN

Rebecca Pitts, QLDC senior communications advisor. “We’d also like to ask people to help out absentee owners by moving bins in off the street.”

The new waste management and services plan, which has garnered community concerns on its influence in an increase in rates for district residents from an average rise of 5.99 percent for the 2019-20 year, as indicated in the 2018-2028 Ten-Year Plan, to 8.72 percent.

“Yes, it’s correct that the new waste service will impact rates,” said Pitts. “Details on this were included in our draft Annual Plan and consultation document. The cost per serviced property is $160 per annum.”

Council has said the service change, paid for through a targeted rate, could represent an overall cost savings for many residents. On QLDC’s website, council states, “Please note the higher rates increases below reflect the effect of the new solid waste contract. As discussed above, many of these properties will be able to offset the additional $160 in rates

against savings in current costs for hiring refuse bins and or purchasing blue bags.”

Pitts said, “For many the change will represent an overall cost saving, for others it’s probably a cost neutral proposition, some may end up paying a little more. For those individuals who are already on their way to creating minimal waste, we acknowledge PHOTO: Supplied and accept that for you, there is a price to supporting the whole district’s journey towards zero waste. The new service will be the same for all, district-wide.”

The Wanaka Sun also wanted to know how the new waste service incentivises users to reduce landfill waste seeing that the rubbish bin size is pre-determined and users cannot opt out of the weekly collection service.

“The size of the 140-litre rubbish bin was given careful consideration,” said Pitts. “A priority of the new contract is to reduce recycling contamination as much as possible. The 140-litre rubbish bin will help to avoid rubbish overflow being

dumped in the recycling bins.

The new rubbish wheelie bin will seem large to many households, especially those further along the zero waste journey. Many people won't need to put it out every week, or even every few weeks, and that's where we'd like everyone to get to in the long-term. However, in the meantime, we have to look after our recycling and make sure no-one is tempted to fill up (and contaminate) their recycling bins with rubbish.

The size will also allow for less frequent collections if a kerbside organics collection is introduced in the future (without needing to replace the bins).”

As for the residents who are currently paying for privately sourced rubbish collection pick up from AllWaste, they can expect communication on what to do next.

“We understand AllWaste are writing to their customers to organise collection of their bins,” said Pitts. “Residents can continue their private service if they choose to. However, this would result in ‘paying twice’ as there is no ability to opt out of the service.”

Pictured: Recycling crates will be replaced with wheelie bins under the new QLDC solid waste service plan, which will kick off district-wide on July 1.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

This week brings another edition of Aspiring Medical Centres Our People, Our Doctors.

These series give you a chance to get to know the amazing team that make up the centre and who live within our community.

This week we give you the chance to learn a little more about Dr Simon Brebner.

Doctors Name: Simon Brebner Specialised Area: 1. Musculo-Skeletal/ Sports Medicine injuries and problems such as sore shoulders, Dr Simon Brebner MBChB, Dip Sports Med, injured knees, FRNZCGP broken collar bones and so on 2. Skin lesion procedures- simple mole and skin cancer excisions, more complicated or large lesions on the face, problems requiring advanced techniques such as skin grafts or flap surgery 3. Male Health- young fellas, middle aged blokes and more mature chaps Medical Passion: The privilege of hearing patient’s stories.

Personal Passion: My boys, sport, music, Laura, Scruffy, cooking and eating, travelling, books, drama, more sport and controlling the bloody lawns.

Did you always want to be a doctor?

No, I wanted to be a marine biologist as I was fascinated with the ocean and JacquesCousteau. I was mortified to learn because of my asthma I wouldn’t be able to SCUBA dive!

How long have you lived in Wanaka?

24 short years.

What’s the best thing about living here?

It’s always quiet at Christmas.

What’s your favourite Wanaka activity or locals tip for visitors?

There’s great biking in Sticky Forest, a standing wave on the Hawea river to surf on, dream skiing and snowboarding at Treble Cone and beautiful views to relax with at the end of a busy day.

If you could invite any four famous people to dinner (alive or dead) who would you ask?

My gran because I miss her, my partner Laura because we’re both very busy and never see each other, Dave Jongsma who tragically died last year and Kelly Slater (surf tragic) Some health or general life advice: Wash out your cuts under running water; young people – grow old; pat dogs.

Call: 443 0725 www.aspiringmedical.co.nz 23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka

www.th e wan akas un . c o . n z PAGE 5

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Crimeline Hurley S Sean Senior Constable, NZPD

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Ph: 027 8666 105

Email: Tim.garden-construction@outlook.com

Two for One Tuesday's Are Back Get two for one on all main meals after 4pm on Tuesday's.

8am till late daily. www.alchemywanaka.nz | ph 03 443 2040

PAINTBALL PAINTBALL CENTRAL CENTRAL CROMWELL

BIRTHDAY PARTIES • WORK DO STAG/HEN PARTIES • FAMILY GAMES • FREE BBQ ON SITE • FUN FOR ALL AGES email: paintballcentral@xtra.co.nz PHONE (027) 448-5399 TO BOOK PAGE 6

ALLISON MCLEAN 2142835

• Trenching • Retaining walls • Bobcat Work • Irrigation • House pads

also referred to emergency psychiatric services. Two males under 20 years were apprehended for excess breath alcohol.

Police from Twizel came across our burglars heading back to Geraldine with the stolen property and vehicles and enquiries are continuing to link them to most of the burglary offences that have occurred this week. On Sunday, police dealt with a motor vehicle collision at the junction of Riverbank Road.

This week’s offending is somewhat of an upswing in locally reported crime.

Although these matters have now been resolved we need our community to try and take greater care of their property, lock sheds and out-buildings, secure your vehicles and possessions. These offenders come from outside of our community and identified us as an easier target than they had locally—let us ensure others do not have that opportunity.

For police, remember the new 105 number for non-emergency calls.

Wellington design studio creates sustainable Central Otago art

Tim Garden Construction • Mini Excavation & Cartage • 300mm & 600mm augers • Concrete • Driveways & Patios • New lawn prep

We have had a somewhat busy week for crime and local offending. On Monday, police received a report of a burglary at an address under construction on Hikuwai Drive; two sanders were stolen. We also dealt with a motor vehicle collision in which a local male was apprehended for driving with an excess alcohol level of 1001mcgs.

Tuesday brought a burglary on Timaru Creek Road, during which the offender tried to syphon diesel from a digger.

Wednesday brought a report of graffiti targeting Northlake development and at other places using a Swastika symbol. When one looks at recent events in Christchurch this is highly inappropriate and police would like to hear from anyone who can enlighten us as to the offenders; such a symbol should never be used in our community.

On Thursday, police attended the

sudden death of a local lady and we all would wish to extend our condolences to her family in relation to the sudden and unexpected loss.

On Friday, police received a report of a burglary in which a trailer and quad bike were stolen from a Timsfield Drive address, a burglary at a Camp Hill Road address in which tools were stolen, a burglary of a Mount Barker Road address where offenders tried to steal a vintage car and take diesel fuel from a pump on the property. Lastly a Subaru Legacy vehicle was stolen from an Albert Town address.

On Saturday, police received a report of theft of a boat from outside a Lagoon Avenue address and the burglary of a garage at a Noema Terrace address in which tools again were targeted. Theft of a quad bike in a burglary and another burglary at a Mount Barker Road address. Police apprehended a local male after driving away from an incident at the skate park with an excess alcohol level of 937mcgs. A female was

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

The compelling and iconic scenes of Central Otago can now be further treasured in a sustainable way. The Furnace, a Wellington-based design company, has recently launched new locations within their hand-made, bamboo art map offerings, which are three-dimensional depictions of New Zealand topography.

The customisable maps of the country and international coastlines, waterways and mountains have been expanded to now include Otago Peninsula, Coronet Peak, Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown; more Central Otago maps will be added soon, including the launch of a Lake Wanaka map within a few weeks.

“Our maps so far have focussed on the unseen below the water, and the strong connections people have with the sea,” said The Furnace co-owner Aran Pudney.

“However, around Queenstown and Wanaka, the mountains are so dramatic, and so linked to the identity of the area, that we really wanted to include them in this collection."

The husband and wife team of artists is committed to the creation of ethical art with zero waste to minimise negative impact on the environment. Aran and Maeve Pudney's art works are made of bamboo ply layers and framed in a FSC timber frame, hand-painted with ecofriendly dyes and presented in an ecofriendly gift box. The Pudneys have also phased out courier bags and opted for oversized cardboard wrap, printed paper labels and natural paper tape. “There is always more you can do when it comes to the environment, but we feel we have achieved a lot in the last year and are looking forward to further improving our offering,” said Aran Pudney.

The Furnace, which started in 2015, began with the idea of laser cutting children’s furniture, which soon led to other unique designs that are assembled and finished by hand. “Although our laser cutter is super-efficient and only uses about the same electricity as a small oil heater, it is able to cut through 18mm of

PHOTO: The Furnace

solid timber with ease,” said Aran Pudney.

“It gets pretty hot out in the garage in the summer, so between that, the intense flame from the laser and with the flurry of ideas we had racing around our heads, The Furnace seemed like an apt name to call our new business.”

To enter to win a 38x30 hand-made The Furnace map of your choosing from the

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

team’s Queenstown collection, valued at $179, enter our contest on the Wanaka Sun Facebook page.

For more information about the art maps, visit www.thefurnace.co.nz Pictured: The husband and wife team behind The Furnace have create new Central Otago maps to add to their sustainable artwork collection offerings.

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

UPPER CLUTHA LAKES TRUST

Water survey preliminary results J Julie Perry

Secretary - Upper Clutha Lakes Trust

The Wanaka Water Project received 271 responses to the recent Water Survey, 236 of which were residents. The Water Survey was designed to gain an understanding of what our community uses water for, what we think of current water quality, what water issues are of most importance and what actions we think are needed. Survey results will help inform the Integrated Catchment Management Plan currently being developed for the Upper Clutha catchments.

Only 17 percent of survey respondents perceived overall freshwater quality in the Upper Clutha catchment to be ‘very good’, while 33 percent considered it ‘good’ and 32 percent ‘moderate’. 15 percent considered freshwater quality to be either ‘poor’ or ‘very poor.’

Based on your experience, is water quality in the Upper Clutha area: 0%

Getting worse

25%

50%

75%

Not changing significantly

100%

Getting better

Excluding ‘not sure’ – 19 responses

Selecting their level of concern from a range of potential water quality problems affecting the Upper Clutha catchments, survey respondents were very concerned with nutrient runoff from agricultural land (192), discharges of pesticides/ herbicides (188), invasive species (184), wastewater discharges (182), microbiological contamination (174), urban stormwater runoff (170), sedimentation What is your overall perception of water quality in the Upper Clutha? and reduced water clarity (155), loss of remaining 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% wetlands (152), leaks and spills of fuel or other chemicals (149), loss of biodiversity (143) and overuse of water (142). Fewer respondents were very concerned by tourism-related impacts (126) and climate change impacts (111). Reduced sport fish populations were of least concern overall.

Safe for swimming was rated as very important for 241 respondents, closely followed by drinkable water (224), biodiversity and healthy native Very poor Poor Moderate Good Very good Excluding ‘not sure’ – 8 responses ecosystems (224), water clarity (215), safe for wading and other water sports (210) and control of invasive species (209).

Seventy percent of those completing the survey A full analysis of survey responses including believe that water quality in the Upper Clutha is summaries of written responses will shortly be getting worse. available at www.uppercluthalakestrust.org.

PHOTO: Supplied

Old Hawea land plump for the picking Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

In a rare moment of real estate gold, 8.5ha of old Hawea town land has just hit the market. The largely rectangular block at 195 Lakeview Terrace is surrounded by existing residential properties. The gently sloping tussock and grassed block has been owned by a Dunedinbased family for the past 25 years, and is now being marketed for sale by tender through Bayleys Wanaka.

The land is classified Township Zone under the Queenstown District Lakes Council plan.

Bayleys Wanaka salesperson Todd Soper said, “The family has owned different property in Hawea for the past 70 years and its members are now at a stage in their lives they are no longer able to enjoy the land as they have done over the past 25 years. It was a very difficult decision for them to make and has taken over a year to decide that it was the right time.”

Hawea has enjoyed some huge capital gains over recent years and for owners who have held land for decades, the profit margin can be like winning Lotto. Records show this plot of land was sold for $110,000 in 1994 but now has a site value of $3.2million.

Soper said, “this land is pretty special as it’s already zoned for subdivision and is located in the older area of Lake Hawea township.” Part of the section is PHOTO: Ray Tiddy Photography also on the highly valued elevated area of old Hawea that enjoys lake views, 2019 YAMI Summit participant George Cairney. whilst part of it slopes down the hill Approximately 350 people filled the Centre to towards Timsfield. Logic dictates that enjoy Sunday night’s public performance; a 22-piece choir and 20 of the Summit attendees joined Tiki Taane, P Digsss, Bella Kalolo, Kings and Laughton Wanaka Medical - Leading the Way Kora on stage. The experience was something that Cairney, of Wanaka, said he will never forget. “I was able to show people how I felt through music, and that felt good to be able to express myself and to have people listen,” he said. “I knew that everyone was going to feel some excitement, but I had no idea how much emotion would be felt by the crowd.”

The 2019 YAMI line up featured tutors P Digsss, Tiki Taane and Sambora (Shapeshifter), Steph Brown (Lips), Kings and Bella Kalolo. The group joined the summit’s veterans of Warren Maxwell, Lee Prebble, Danny Fairley and Barnaby Weir. All Free for those over 65year and those with a special condition musical artists donated their time, skills and energy eg asthma or diabetes. to support the educational summit. The event was Employers : insure your business against the flu, have your staff run by volunteers with ticket proceeds used to help vaccinated fund the region’s music education.

“The best YAMI Summit yet”

ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A draw of 150 people from all corners of New Zealand are singing praises to the 2019 YAMI SouNZ Summit, which wrapped last weekend at Lake Wanaka Centre. Event organisers crowned last Saturday’s and Sunday’s music industry event with the title of the “best YAMI yet” due to the creativity and talent expressed this year.

The attendees joined this year’s summit to upskill on everything from music technology to DJ-ing to singing in harmony. The summit, which started in 2015, broke down barriers by offering collaborative opportunities for participants of all ages to gain access to the knowledge of key music professionals who have a proven success record in the music industry.

Between workshops, panels and showcases, the bravery of the summit participants was noticed. “My favourite part of summit was seeing all of the people who thought they had nothing to offer, who thought that they were so new that they couldn’t contribute Pictured: The YAMI SouNZ Summit wrapped last as much as those who had more experience, but, Sunday night with more than 40 people joining Tiki man, these people had passion and talent, and I Taane, P Digsss, Bella Kalolo, Kings and Laughton think that energy will take them a long way,” said Kora on stage at the Lake Wanaka Centre.

THE WANAKA SUN

the elevated sections could provide some spectacular architecturally designed homes, whilst the southern sites provide more affordable options.

But how a developer chooses to divide the land will be revealed in due course.

Soper said, “An indicative residential subdivision plan for the site identified the potential for the creation of between 73 to 80 sections from the existing single property.

“Queenstown Lakes District Council had indicated its intention to review the Township Zone guidelines later this year, with the potential that the current minimum section size of 800 square metres could drop to minimum section sizes of 450 square metres.

Based on a higher density design, it is feasible that up to 120 lots ranging in size from 500-600 square metres could be yielded from the site.”

Soper also said, “A new large-scale subdivision in Lake Hawea would offer an attractive price point for those looking at entry-level property in the district, on which to build.”

Sections in the nearby Timsfield development at Lake Hawea which were released to the market earlier this year have been selling for between $249,000 and $300,000. Of the 42 Timsfield sites released, only six remain unsold. The sites ranged in size from 800 square metres to 1,300 square metres.

“The speed at which Timsfield has sold down shows there is demand for greenfield sites in the town as people find they are priced out of the Wanaka market,” Mr Soper said.

Pictured: 8.5ha now for sale at 195 Lakeview Terrace, Hawea.

Flu Vaccinations Now Available

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

(03) 443 0710

23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka www.WanakaMedical.co.nz

PAGE 7

Sun News

Teachers’ strike scheduled for May 29 Emma Conyngham

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wendy Bamford, principal of Wanaka Primary announced, “It is with frustration and disappointment that I inform you of the teacher's strike date of Wednesday 29th May. Our school will be closed on this day. Our teachers, as are others throughout the country, are not wanting this disruption to our programmes and the loss of another day's pay. We do not want the inconvenience and pressure that this can cause you as a family, but this is the only thing that we as a profession can do to be heard by the Government.”

The grievance between the teaching profession and the government has been festering for years and now the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins,

is facing ‘the largest strike action in memory’; all primary and secondary teachers across the country will strike in unity. Ange Scoullar Acting Principal of Holy Family School quoted a message from a Northland teacher who articulated teachers’ frustrations very clearly: “The minister just announced $95 million to attract new teachers. This is such a common marketing strategy. Offer a deal to get people to sign up–but don’t look after your existing customers! This $95 million to train new teachers does not stop the flood of teachers quitting.

It does not solve the massive percentage of teachers who resign within the first five years.

It does nothing to value our experienced, hardworking teachers. It also does nothing to attract our top students to teaching–we want the best

thewanakasun.co.nz

and brightest school leavers to be considering teaching!”

“The minister likes to talk about this being a $10,000 payrise. Currently our beginning teachers spend a minimum of three years at university and then start on a paltry $47980. This offer gives them three percent straight away. So about $1400 before tax, or about $19 a week. This is one of the reasons we have a 40 percent reduction in people choosing teaching as a career.”

But the rift isn’t just about money.

The support for learners with special needs–both learning and behaviour– is nothing short of “pathetic”. Limited release for primary teachers means they have no extra time to plan for these learners–or attend meetings, or support whanau.

“A decade ago, we used to get 100 applicants for a teaching job.

Principals could choose the best candidates to meet the needs of their school. Now we see vacancies having no applicants at all. We have classes being split because we can’t find a reliever. We see jobs being readvertised over and over again.

“We have already battled this for a year. It has cost teachers thousands and we seem to have made little headway. We know it’s frustrating for parents and we hear the messages from the Minister that try to turn the public against us.

“Please believe me that we are fighting for the education for your children. We have come too far to give up now.”

Warbirds gets their hands dirty

3 FOR 2

*

across the entire DR LEWINN’S range.

PHOTO: supplied

STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Warbirds Over Wanaka has followed up its $20,000 donation to the Wanaka Water Project by helping plant almost 200 trees this week.

A team of 15 Warbirds Over Wanaka staff and volunteers joined with Te Kakano Community Plant Nursery volunteers for a planting day at the Department of Conservation’s Glendhu Wetland Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday .

The planting is part of the Wanaka Water Project’s aim to plant some 24,000 trees around Wanaka

waterways over the next five years.

Wanaka Water Project Manager, Megan Williams, says it’s fabulous to have organisations like Warbirds making a donation and then following up with hands-on assistance planting some of the trees they have funded.

"We really appreciate their support.

If others would like to donate, please select Love Lake Wanaka on the million metres website,” says Megan. www.millionmetres.org.nz/openproject/love-lake-wanaka Pictured: Warbirds Over Wanaka staff Bruce Clulow and Murray Walker planting trees.

Snow Sports NZ recruiting Olympic selectors Ollie Blyth

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

*Free product is the lesser value of the three. Excludes gift sets, value packs and clearance items.

Offer valid until May 31, 2019. Qualifying purchase must be made in a single transaction.

Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Phone: 03 443 8000 Top of Helwick Street, Wanaka OPENING HOURS: 8AM TO 7PM 7 DAYS *free 8 product is the lesser value of the three.

PAGE

Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) has recently announced that they are looking for qualified and experienced individuals to take up voluntary roles as Olympic selectors for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games. Up to six people are required for the positions, with two main selectors and four discipline-specific roles.

The roles will involve selecting athletes for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games as well as the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A selector’s role involves nominating New Zealand athletes for consideration to be part of the teams that go to the upcoming games. The disciplines required include: adaptive; free-ski and ski cross; snowboard and snowboard cross; and alpine and cross-country.

The two main selectors will be in charge of making final decisions regarding the nomination of athletes to the NZ Olympic and Paralympic Committees.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

SSNZ have specified that they are looking for people with an international sport focus, some experience in selecting athletes and sports management, knowledge of SSNZ and the New Zealand sports sector and experience coaching or managing snow sports on a national or international level.

It has also been made clear that candidates do not have any conflict of interest that could affect their selection choices. This may include club membership, coaching relationships, management relationships with SSNZ, athletes or coaches, business relationships with snow sport, or personal relationships with SSNZ athletes who are interested in being selected. Conflicts of interest should be declared by the candidate upon application.

Those interested are encouraged to read SSNZ’s website regarding application and to download a candidate pack on their website.

Applications close on June 30.

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

Kahu Youth

Holiday activities

Keeping pace with the Kahu Youth Trust

PHOTO: Supplied

Lumino Day creates big smiles PHOTO: supplied

Dobbs R Randal Kahu Youth Worker As our community grows and enlarges, so does our youth community. With new schools being built in the area and an increasing number of families choosing Wanaka and the Upper Clutha area as their home, so too is Kahu Youth Trust growing and expanding.

Kahu Youth Trust is responsible for providing opportunities, programmes and a base for youth in the Upper Clutha area (Wanaka, Hawea, Hawea Flat and Luggate). The Trust is very proactive and has implemented a number of changes recently. There is a real eagerness among the Trustees to increase this momentum and to ensure we are meeting the needs of all those wanting to be a part of a local youth hub. The Trust understands the growing need to have strong, robust youth programmes and facilities—so that as our community grows, we can ensure we have the capacity to reach all youth wanting to be involved.

The Trust is currently in the midst of developing a detailed strategic plan and marketing programme which will involve actively engaging with all our

stakeholders—our funders, teachers, sponsors and of course our youth—to ensure our work going forward meets the needs of the community. One of the first things we understand very clearly is just how quickly the number of our local youth will grow over the next decade.

Kahu Youth Trust will need more resources, more staff, and a strong community presence if we are to keep pace with our changing environment.

As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ and we feel our youth are a community responsibility. We would love any feedback from you all with regards to your thoughts about how we are tracking; suggestions going forward and your thoughts in general about what constitutes good youth work in a community.

Send any thoughts to Gina Treadwell (Trustee Kahu Youth Trust) ginatreadwell@xtra.co.nz and watch this space as we communicate our plans going forward ensuring Kahu Youth Trust is ‘the best little youth hub we can be’.

Pictured: Kahu Youth is growing and requires more resources to help the organisation keep pace with today's youth.

Kahu Youth Trustees.

ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

More than 450 people are smiling brighter after receiving free dental care throughout the county last Saturday. During Lumino Day 2019, a team of around 100 Lumino The Dentists clinical staff from 40 practices, including the Wanaka clinic, and 150 support staff helped treat selected patients for free to the value of more than $150,000. The annual day of giving back to the community has provided a treatment value of more than $1 million to thousands of smiles since its inception in 2013.

Lumino again partnered up with Carers NZ during last weekend’s event; Carers NZ is the national body that provides information, advice, learning and support to family carers.

Carers NZ states that more than 420,000 people in New Zealand are reported to be caring for a family member who is sick or with a disability, which has

often translated to a major loss of income and up to 30 hours of additional unpaid care work every week.

With this knowledge, the team set the day aside for St John New Zealand staff members and unpaid carers to visit their local Lumino dentist to have their basic dental treatment completed for free.

John Stent, Lumino The Dentists general manager of operations, said Lumino Day is a prime opportunity to return a kind service back to people who selflessly give their time to help others in need.

“We are aware that oral health is often something that gets left behind, so we do like to think that, although we may have only seen some patients for a limited amount of time, that the impact and the education we can give is lasting and contributes to their overall health,” said Stent.

Lumino Day is one of the largest free dental events in New Zealand.

Pictured: Lumino The Dentists Wanaka clinical staff, pictured here, helped give free basic dental treatment during last Saturday’s Lumino Day 2019.

Southern DHB Commissioner Be part of the discussion about the future of water in your area appoints two new deputies STAFF REPORTER

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Southern DHB Commissioner Kathy Grant has announced the appointments of esteemed oncologist Dr David Perez and experienced health executive Jean O'Callaghan as two new deputies, to support the remainder of her term and the transition to a new board.

The appointments follow the loss of deputy commissioner Graham Crombie, who passed away unexpectedly in February. Perez and O'Callaghan will join Richard Thomson as deputy commissioners.

Grant welcomed Perez and O'Callaghan into their roles, saying "We are entering the final phase of our term as a commissioner team, and we are keenly focused on making

THE WANAKA SUN

sure the strategic developments and improvements that have been made are secure and able to be handed over successfully to the incoming board."

“These include the system-wide transformation encompassed in the DHB and WellSouth's Primary and Community Care Strategy and Action Plan; the gains made in the 'Valuing Patients' Time' programme to improve patients' journey through the hospital system; the Southern Future work to help build a stronger organisational culture; and the progress in envisaging future ways of providing health care as we design the new Dunedin hospital,” Grant said.

Elections for the Southern District Health Board will be held in October 2019, with the new board to formally assume their roles in December.

ORC is working with the community in the Cardrona River catchment to find out what they value about this waterway, and to develop objectives and use limits.

If you live in or near this area, we want you to be involved. It’s important that as many people as possible take part in the discussion so that decisions about the Cardrona River reflect the needs of the whole community.

We want to check that the values identified so far reflect what is important to you, and to find out if you have any other values you want to contribute.

IN PERSON

May 28 at 12.30pm or 7pm Armstrong Room, Lake Wanaka Centre 89 Ardmore St, Wanaka.

ONLINE

yoursay.orc.govt.nz/cardrona-river

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

PAGE 9

M ASTERPL AN Wanaka Town Centre

L

ast week it was intimated that a “sleeping giant may have been awoken” in relation to the last iteration of the Masterplan. It is understood that the CBD landowners have formed one, if not two groups, as it appears that they are another stakeholder that were not separately consulted. Like the Wanaka Town Centre Business Group (WTCBG) they have significant ‘skin in the game’ and understand the negative implications of open air malls, one way roading and lack of parking when it comes to a successful retail precinct.

In addition some ratepayers of long standing have formed a loose association and have sought legal advice on aspects of the consultation process to date.

Good governance and open local government processes dictate that the final draft of the Masterplan be submitted for public consultation given the materiality of what is proposed as they relate to traffic and the consequential pedestrian flows, parking etc.

Given the frenetic pace this process continues to be driven at one could expect this final draft to be available within the next two weeks much of which, it is understood, remains unchanged.

It is suspected that to water down and soften the impact of the effect of the proposals those involved will point out and emphasize that it is a 30 year plan, that nothing is in concrete or certain, and that it is subject to a host of conditions , approvals etc.

Be that as it may the final approved Plan will lie on the table and form the precedent around which development will take place. Therefore it is critical and essential that what is put into the plan is strongly critiqued, is realistic and does not have a negative impact on the commercial hub of Wanaka and the businesses contained therein, which in turn form a significant part of the community.

Finally, this plan is that of the QLDC, driven and put together by outside consultants who have no vested interest in its outcome other than to continue their consultancy. This is why local politicians need to be held accountable for their actions to date and the final draft of the Masterplan should form the centre of debate around the local elections to be held later this year.

In essence ‘more haste, less speed’.

Turning now to the supporting economic impact report/ business case, which must be necessary given the materiality of what is proposed in the Masterplan, a cynic would presuppose that it will favour the implementation of that Plan.

Again, given the radical nature of what is proposed and its impact on the CBD one suspects there will be considerable debate around same, if not legal challenge as various experts will be called upon by those opposed to the enormity of such change, particularly in relation to the CBD. One suspects that the CBD under the plan will continue to be difficult for vehicle access as the majority of the area will be confined to one way traffic and less parking all of which impact negatively on the businesses trying to trade in and from that precinct.

One should not hold their breath while they wait for the last draft of the Masterplan as it is expected that the only changes from the previous draft will be cosmetic in nature despite submissions to the contrary!

Signed: The Wanaka CBD Watchdog

PAGE 10

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

THE WANAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun Sport

Wanaka AFC finds its feet

PHOTO: Mike Finlay PHOTO: Black Peak Photo

MAC First XV rise to challenge against Southland Boys High The Mt Aspiring College First XV kept the home crowd cheering right to the final whistle in a tough match against Southland Boys High (SBH) in Wanaka on Saturday. While it was a convincing win

by Southland Boys, the 50-12 score line reflected the hard work and conviction shown by the Wanaka team, with two well-deserved tries the reward for their efforts.

A top four finisher in last year’s National First XV Championship, SBH were always going to put up a strong challenge, and with 33 answered points already on the board as the first half ticked to a close, it was looking to become a one-sided game.

However, a break by centre Jack East, and a try to MAC right before the half time whistle was exactly what was needed to keep the home side’s heads and hearts in the game.

“Southland Boys showed their slickness in the first half with some well-executed tries and our boys were a bit overawed to start, playing Southland Boys, knowing their reputation, it took them a while to work into the game,” said coach Carl Schmack.

“After Wednesday’s game (against Wakatipu High School) there was a lot of fatigue. We had a few starters missing—Fergus Read, Ashton Towers,

With 150 girls and five boys in this year’s Upper Clutha primary school netball, Harrison Lovelock and teammate Harper Norman are paving the way for boys to play netball.

With three older sisters, Harrison has spent a lot of time on the sideline watching games but is now a shooting star with his Holy Family team.

Mum Linli Lovelock says she super proud of her boy choosing to play netball. “He had a few wobbles with it being a ‘girls’ sport, but he’s really confident and self-assured and I am really proud.”

Pictured: Harrison Lovelock shoots a goal, with Wanaka Primary defence players, Isabelle Ashford and Coco Hocking.

THE WANAKA SUN

Callum Smith—so we had to make a few last-minute changes and it took awhile for them to get into the game, so it was a matter of working through that,” Schmack continued.

“The try just before half time made a difference, it showed the boys that we can take on these big teams. They really took that into the second half.”

The second half brought a whole different pace, with the MAC team stepping up to the challenge. Jack East was a standout both on defence and attack with number 10 Milan Martinovich and fullback Matthew Wilson also showing solid execution on defence and halfback Ethan Kerr keeping the game moving with quick and accurate ball clearing out of the ruck.

The 33-5 halftime score remained unchanged for the first 20 minutes of the second half before SBH were able to make a breakthrough and score a further three tries. MAC answered with a try to lock Ollie Holloway just before full time, converted by Ryan Jones for a final score of 50-12.

MAC are scheduled to play Waitaki Boys High School on Oamaru next Saturday May 18, at 12pm.

Pictured: Mt Aspiring College against Southland Boys High.

– By Alex Kerr

In a week where the football world was celebrating comebacks in cup competitions, Wanaka AFC mounted a comeback of their own, overcoming a two-goal deficit to beat Geraldine 3-2 in the opening round of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup. Ian Bell’s side trailed for most of the match to a pair of goals from Geraldine striker German Arujo Copette at the Rec Centre, but they recovered thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from highly rated midfielder Barry Grehan and the return to form of striker Steve Pleskun.

Geraldine had taken the lead early when Copette snuck through the Wanaka offside trap to neatly tuck away his strike from just inside the box. In a carbon copy of his first goal, Copette again struck, to give the visitors a two-goal lead at the break.

The second half saw Wanaka beginning to control possession and on the hour mark Grehan floated an exquisite free kick into the opposition 18-yard box which Pleskun rose to head home. Grehan then had a hand in the equaliser as his deflected shot rebounded to the feet of youngster Weston Bell who tapped home from six yards with 10 minutes to play.

Geraldine, relying on the counter attack, hoped to regain the lead but Wanaka keeper Britton Dowling again showed his class with several key saves stifling the opposition attacks.

With scores level and extra time looming Pleskun found himself with

space in the opposition final third, Geraldine keeper Brian Martin closed quickly but Pleskun squeezed the winner past him and into the corner of the goal.

The visitors put up a valiant effort and will be disappointed they couldn't hold onto their lead, in what was a classic cup game. Wanaka will now turn their attention towards a trip to Dunedin to face Green Island, as they await the draw for the second round.

The results for the Seniors and Senior Reserves went more or less the same as they have in previous weeks, matching their opposition in areas of the game but not being able to perform to a high enough level for the full 90 minutes.

Hosting the Queenstown Falcons, the Seniors scored via Everton Furby but then conceded within minutes of taking the lead. The following ten minutes were chaotic at best with both teams having a player sent off.

The scores remained level until the 60th minute when the Falcons scored twice in quick succession and round out the clash with three more goals, the match ending 6-1 to the visitors.

The Senior Reserves travelled to Alexandra aiming to lift themselves off the bottom of the Division 2 table.

Despite matching their hosts for much of the game, the Reserves conceded at either end of the second half to lose 2-0.

Pictured Allan Carmichael challenges a Geraldine player.

– By Mike Finlay

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

PAGE 11

Sun Sport

thewanakasun.co.nz

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Resource Consent Application Details of the resource consent application and submission forms are available in the offices at Queenstown Lakes District Council, Gorge Road, Queenstown; 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown; and 47 Ardmore Street, Wānaka during normal office hours (8.00am to 5.00pm). You can also download these on our website. http://www.qldc.govt.nz/planning/resource-consents/notified-resource-consents-and-hearings/ 1.

Mt Iron Junction Limited (RM181471)

What is proposed: Mixed use development including a service station, worker’s accommodation, terrace housing units, childcare centre, mini golf facility and associated roading, services and earthworks with access from a proposed roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 6 and 8.

A Master Plan is proposed and is intended to be delivered in two or more stages, Stage 1 of the Master Plan the subject of this Application. Activities proposed within the Stage 1 Master Plan include: • Caltex service station with associated retail stores, carwash and laundromat; • Worker’s accommodation facility consisting of nine residential units; • 17 two or three-bedroom terrace housing units; • Childcare centre; and

PHOTO: Alex Kerr

• Mini golf facility.

Stage 2 (or subsequent stages) of the Master Plan propose to establish a motel and commercial precinct. These activities do not form part of this Application; however, resource consent is sought for the footprint of these buildings.

To enable access to the site, a new roundabout is required at the intersection of SH6, SH84 and Riverbank Road. The roundabout cannot be included as part of this Application as its construction is the responsibility of NZTA and is primarily located on road.

The location in respect of which this application relates is situated at: 237 Wānaka-Luggate Highway, Wānaka ADDRESS FOR SERVICE FOR APPLICANT: C/- Duncan White Duncan.White@ppgroup.co.nz Paterson Pitts Limited Partnership PO Box 283 Wānaka The Council planner processing this application on behalf of the Council is Sarah Gathercole, who may be contacted by phone at 03 441 0465 or email at sarah.gathercole@qldc.govt.nz.

Submissions will be received until 14 June 2019, and must be served on the Consent Authority, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348 or email rcsubmission@qldc. govt.nz.

These must be dated, signed by you, and include the following information: 1.

Your name, email address (preferred) postal address and telephone number.

Details of the application in respect of which you are making the submission including location and the Resource Consent number.

Whether you support or oppose the application.

Your submission, with reasons.

The decision you wish the consent authority to make.

Whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission.

2 3 4 5 6

Any person may make a submission on the application, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the application relates that: a)

adversely affects the environment; and

b)

does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

MAC boys and girls rugby open the season with a win The Mt Aspiring College girls’ rugby team had their first games of the season last Wednesday (May 8) with the Junior (U15) and senior team competing in a sevens tournament in Arrowtown. Fifteen of the 23 players have only taken up the sport this season.

The seniors took an impressive 30-5 win over Dunstan in their first game of two, with Lizzie Laws scoring two of the six tries. Georgia Budd, in her third season for MAC, was a stand out player in both games, making tackle after tackle as well as scoring the first try in the second game against Wakatipu.

MAC battled hard in their second game, against Wakatipu, but were outscored by two tries.

The Junior girls showed enthusiasm and commitment in a promising start to their season, unfazed by losses against Dunstan and Wakatipu, and instead enjoying golden moments like Eliza Hardaker’s break away try and a try-saving tackle from Jamie Kerr.

The Mt Aspiring College boys first XV also kicked off their competition season with a win against Wakatipu High School but it was a close game in Queenstown last Wednesday night. The Queenstown side held the lead until the very last play of the game

before Wanaka’s Jack East, playing at centre, broke away from the MAC 10-metre line, setting up the field position which would allow winger Zak Miller to score the winning try in the corner.

Marcus Hetherington scored the first try for MAC with Matthew Wilson and Ryan Jones also getting the ball over the line and TJ Lilly kicking two conversions for a final score of 24-22.

“It wasn’t a great game for us as far as what we can do,” said Coach Carl Schmack. “But, give full credit to Wakatipu, they took it to us, like we knew they would. We kept it in the game and to be fair we’re lucky to get away with the win in the end.

“We knew they were going to come at us on their home patch and we just didn’t match that intensity, especially in the first half. They had some good, big ball runners that took it to us and got over the advantage line and we just didn’t counter that at all, and our own carries were pretty passive.

“The first 35 minutes and even the first ten of the second half we just weren’t on song.” Pictured: Georgia Budd making a tackle against Wakatipu.

– By Alex Kerr

You may make a submission by sending a written or electronic submission to Queenstown Lakes District Council (details below). The submission should be in the format of Form 13. Copies of this form are available on the website http://www.qldc.govt.nz/planning/resource-consents/ Address for Service for Consent Authority: Queenstown Lakes District Council Email: rcsubmission@qldc.govt.nz Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348 Phone: 03 441 0499 Gorge Road, Queenstown 9300 Website www.qldc.govt.nz Dated: 16 May 2019 Signed by QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL

Amendment to May Meeting Schedule Meeting time alteration: The Hearing of Submissions to 2019/20 Annual Plan - previously advertised as taking place on Monday 20 May 2019 at 9.00am, is now scheduled to start at 9.30am in the Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre, 89 Ardmore Street, Wānaka.

Private Bag 50072 | 47 Ardmore Street Wānaka Phone 03 443 0024 | www.qldc.govt.nz

YOUR AD WILL REACH THE MOST LOCALS ONLINE IN www.thewanakasun.co.nz PAGE 12

PHOTO: Black Peak Photo

Last week, Mt Aspiring College students, Ethan Kerr and Jack East were awarded their caps, a school tradition to recognise players on their twentieth appearance for the Mt Aspiring College 1st XV. Now in year 13, both players joined the team as year 11 students. Pictured: capped players Ethan Kerr and Jack East

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

THE WANAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun Views

Local cherry project takes a slice from freshwater resources

OPINION:

Relocate Queenstown Airport; the best option to combat climate change Due to length, this column has been abridged and the full version is available at www.thewanakasun.co.nz Monique Kelly of ONE New Zealand presented a stark and fair challenge with her article ‘The true cost of aviation’ (Crux and The Wanaka Sun, 9/5/2019), but not all her conclusions stack up.

We agree that climate change is a growing and imminent “existential threat”. We do not, however, agree with her conclusion that the idea to relocate Queenstown Airport is a “distracting diversion”.

Unravelling the financial and other costs and benefits of an option not favoured by QAC is not easy

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

ALLISON MCLEAN

journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

A multi-million dollar venture is in the works to further develop Central Otago’s cherry industry and, as a result, further draw resources from the Clutha River.

As cherry investment firm Hortinvest proceeds with its $15.5 million cherry project in the Lindis Valley, it will see the Lindis Peaks Station merino sheep and beef cattle farming business change the use of their land as they diversify into horticulture, which is a welcomed change to many environmentalists. The station, family owned for four generations since 1910, will start planting for the Lindis River cherry project this winter.

Within the plan to expand into horticulture, the 80ha land project will include an irrigation plan to access water from the Clutha River to water the crop.

"The time is right to diversify," said Lindis Peaks Station farmer Lucy Annan. "Horticulture is waterefficient and sits well with our farming system." She said she and fellow station farmer Simon Maling invested in a significant irrigation scheme in 2015 to access water from the Clutha River.

Freshwater is a valuable renewable resource that is often used for irrigation in many vineyards, market gardens and on horticulture crops that otherwise cannot be grown or enhanced without the irrigation. Irrigation can be required to ensure that horticulture is profitable in many of the drier parts of the country. Water is pumped or diverted from the waterways, but only if doing so adheres to minimum flow restrictions to protect local habitats.

Despite that knowledge, change and demand can put pressure on existing resources if sustainable practices are not used, according to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

Recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development figures for New Zealand showed a large increase in the volume and depth equivalent of irrigation water being used, and analysis of that data has suggested there is room to reduce the depth of water on the country’s irrigated farms.

The Wanaka Sun wanted to know if irrigation efficiency is a clear guide for sustainability when it is compared with the wider interest of the community to reduce our water footprint.

Otago Regional Council (ORC), which has responsibility for water extraction consents, offered additional clarification on consented water extraction from the Clutha River. The council states that it encourages “environmentally-sustainable use of land and water resources, and their expectation is that all permitted and consented activities fulfil that criteria.”

It was not clear to the Wanaka Sun whether Hortinvest applied for resource consent, or had it granted, and ORC would not elaborate on whether

THE WANAKA SUN

this freshwater extraction required consent.

“Under the provisions of the Regional Plan: Water for Otago, people can apply for resource consent to take water from the Clutha River for a variety of uses, including domestic and communal water supplies, pasture and orchard irrigation,” said Joanna Gilroy, ORC manager of consents. “The Water Plan does not restrict activities that rely on water abstraction from the Clutha River unless these activities have an adverse effect on the river or the diverse ecological, cultural, social and economic values supported by the Clutha or its hydro lakes."

She said the amount of water that would be approved for irrigating a cherry orchard would be based upon its size and location. “When we receive an application to take water for irrigation, we perform an assessment of reasonable use which accounts for local soil, climate, and crop types.”

Gilroy also said that if water-users are taking water as a permitted activity under the council’s regional water plan, then it is not necessary for them to apply for a resource consent. “Certain requirements apply to permitted activities, such as preventing backflow of contaminated water and protection of fish from entering water takes. The restrictions on the quantity of water that can be taken as a permitted activity vary within the region and can be found in the Regional Plan. Water taken from the Clutha/ Mata-Au as a permitted activity must not exceed 100 litres per second, nor 1,000,000 litres per day.”

Gilroy continued, “There are 28 existing consents to draw a total of 8,743 l/s of water from the Clutha between Red Bridge and Lake Dunstan. Of those 28 consents, 25 of them (half of the volume abstracted) are for, or have a component that is for irrigation.

ORC is currently reviewing the Regional Plan: Water.

As a requirement of the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, we have established Freshwater Management Units (FMUs) which set out the appropriate spatial scale for setting freshwater objectives and limits, so that valuesetting can be driven locally, rather than through a one-size-fits-all approach.”

She said the public will have the chance to share input into setting water policies, including minimum flows and allocation limits, through ORC's FMU value-setting process; they will also be given the opportunity to identify the kind of values and water-use they want to see provided through council’s regional planning framework. Gilroy maintained that the limits of the permitted take for water will be assessed as part of this process.

Dates of the community consultation on the water plan change process were not announced by the time we went to print, but they reportedly will take place over several years.

Pictured: A $15.5 million, 80ha cherry land project in Lindis Valley will include a horticultural irrigation scheme that draws water from the Clutha River.

legal costs the total land cost for a new airport could be less than $30 million. That’s much less than QAC’s plan to purchase an additional 15 to 34ha of Frankton land, plus 40 houses, with debt-funded costs of $200 to $360 million, to add to its existing $1.2 billion landholding in Frankton.

The “exorbitant” economic cost comes not from moving the airport, but from leaving it where it is.

Our research indicates the opposite—that relocating the airport would have a significant positive effect. Choosing not to move the airport would perpetuate exactly the wrong systemic forces that exacerbate climate change and diminish the effect of our interventions, while raising their costs. In contrast, relocating the airport is perhaps the single most useful action this region could take to address climate change.

This may not yet be obvious because change to the status quo seldom is, and because unravelling the financial and other costs and benefits of an option not favoured

by QAC is not easy.

Concerns regarding road transport emissions miss Queenstown Airport’s changed role from destination to regional hub.

QAC’s data shows 51 percent of passengers landing at Queenstown head to Wanaka and other Central Otago destinations, so there is no change if directions are reversed.

Currently most travel with just one-to-three people per vehicle.

If the airport were in Central Otago, most would likely use airport express buses coming to Queenstown, resulting in fewer vehicles and less emissions.

Investment in an electric bus fleet would reduce emissions more quickly than relying on progressive electrification of private vehicles.

Relocation would reduce aircraft emissions. Flight lines would be more direct and shorter and it’s likely to reduce weather delays that extend flights. If built to accommodate wide-bodied jets it could reduce the number of daily flights by 30 percent, significantly reducing emissions.

The financial case is also compelling. Unlocking the $1.2 billion value of the airport’s Frankton land provides cash to build a new airport. A suitable block of Otago dairy land—the most expensive—would be just $6 million. Even with $20 million

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

The airport in Frankton forces residential development throughout the Wakatipu Basin.

This pushes everyone into cars to get to school, work, shopping, sport or recreation. It stretches the infrastructure of sewerage, stormwater, electricity and telecommunications—draining scarce community resources. It both increases the resource impact per house in terms of land needed, cars required, roads built, and time wasted in travel, while reducing the viability of public transport, recycling, and the viability of community, sport and cultural centers. It erodes the landscape, environment and liveability for all.

In contrast, FlightPlan2050’s proposal would provide an additional 5,000 dwellings for 12,500 residents in Frankton, making it a connected, liveable, peaceful community. Within a 1km radius, residents would have a complete range of excellent facilities, from schools and hospital to sports and commerce. As a flat, sunny, substantial and central site, it is our cheapest place to build. It is the most efficient place to locate sewerage and other infrastructure, with the intensity making it the lowest cost per dwelling of any alternative and using the least resources. It would substantially reduce dependency on vehicles and increase the viability of public transport, as well as increasing active options such as cycling and walking.

Climate change and our urgent need to act should be reason to support the relocation of the airport, not cause to attack the idea.

Rather than being a “diversion” from the real issues, we think the relocation of the airport offers a key opportunity to address them.

We encourage you to become informed and engage with this debate. Further information is on our website FlightPlan2050.co.nz – By John Hilhorst from Flight Plan 2050

PAGE 13

Sun Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

TRADES AND SERVICES PLUMBING

PROPERTY CARE

Serving Wanaka and Central Otago Regions

STORAGE Clean, dry, safe storage available now.

Ezystor Self Storage, 12 Gordon Road, Wanaka, Ph: 021 242 1630.

Sam’s Services

Call for free no obligation quotes

Landscaping ~ Property Transformation ~ Machine Operation Paths ~ Pavers ~ Weed Eating ~ Hedges ~ Lawns

DRAINAGE

M: 021 709 918

l

PLUMBING

l

GAS FITTING

Sam McLeod sam@samsservices.co.nz

W: www.gwplumbing.co.nz

CARWASH

027 622 8370

LOST

GW Logo Paths.indd 1

THANKS

10/26/2017 11:38:28 AM

*NEW* Brushless carwash LAUNDROMAT LPG SHOWER ATM CONVENIENCE STORE CARWASH

SERVICES

Thanks to everyone

Lost in Wanaka at Easter weekend - an SD camera card.

E-mail jennyscott@outlook.co.nz.

Ph 04 9021321

who

comes

to

Wastebusters donate and

goods, recycle.

to shop Your

support helps us work for zero waste and a resourceful community.

TRADES & SERVICES

ADVERTS FROM

$36 +GST

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY

SPORTS RESULTS

EMPLOYMENT

Please send sports results to sports@thewanakasun.co.nz by Tuesday at noon.

Results should be unformatted and presented in the body of the email.

Netball Upper Clutha Cromwell Town Country B 27 v Mac Yr 10a 26. WLHC 15 v Fyfe Law 11. Pioneer 3 14 v MacB 28. Mountainside 40 v Mac Rubys 9. Stihl Shop Hawea 18 v Hawea Social 18. Silverthreads 24 v Mac SSI 26. Lake Bar 5 v Mac Yr9a 31. Mac D 22 v Mac Yr9/10b 9. Mac C 37 v Nulook Hawea 31.

The Camp Hawea 55 v Pioneer 2 22. Cromwell Town Country A 70 v Wanaka Selection 27. Pioneer 1 50 v Proactive 24 Mac A 32.

Mens Tarras Golf Results from second round of Clark Trophy Stableford: D Agnew 41, M Hyndman 38, S Johnston 37, H Reinecke 33, B Rowley 33, G Rive 30.

Nett Eagles: M Hyndman (1) D Agnew (1) S Johnston (1). Not struck birdies: H Reinecke (1) S Johnston (1) D Agnew (1) Twos: H Reinecke and D Agnew.

Wanaka Bridge Club Monday – Roy Stakes 1 North/ South: 1st Dorothy McDonald Jan Baird 57.17% 2nd Kate Coe Kate Summers 56.12% 3rd Marion Furneaux Jenny Muir 55.59% East/ West 1st Sheryl Strudwick Jan Anderson 65.53% 2nd Ian McDonald Lesley Davies 57.58% 3rd Michael Metzger Martin Unwin 56.06% Wednesday – Bronze Champ Pairs 4 North/South: 1st Helen Henshall Sally Goodall 61.98% 2nd Carol Orbell Rosemary Boswell 55.21% 3rd Marion Murphy Jan Wynn-Williams 53.39% East/ West 1st Carolyn Field Jen Milburn 63.35% 2nd John Schwarz Alan Bunn 55.63% 3rd Carole Turner Lesley Hook 52.84% Friday 10 May - Handicap: North/ South: 1st Ena Leckie Laraine Shepherd 61.43% 2nd Claire Romeril Jo Wallis 54.24% 3rd Jill Paxman Kay Ross 48.12% East/ West 1st Sheryl Strudwick Jenny Turnbull 68.55% 2nd Helen Millar Eddie Lowe 52.64% 3rd Carolyn Field Noelene Raffills 51.93%.

PAGE 14

Phone: 03 443 8000 Top of Helwick St, Wanaka

Pharmacy Retail Sales Position

We are looking for sales superstar to join our team.

Previous pharmacy or beauty industry experience would be ideal but not essential. Enthusiasm, good product knowledge, the ability to sell and a willingness to learn are absolute necessities.

This is a permanent position. Hours by negotiation.

If this is you, please send your CV and cover letter to:

Aaron Heath Wanaka Pharmacy, PO Box 45, Wanaka or email: aaron@pembroke.co.nz Applications close Monday, May 27, 2019.

OPENING HOURS: 8AM TO 7PM 7 DAYS

SUN TEAM

WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER – ISSUE 922 Free delivery to Wanaka, Cromwell and surrounds, PO boxes in Makarora, Cromwell, Haast, Wanaka, Albert Town and Hawea.

Also distributed to businesses in the Wanaka business district Average circulation: 15,000 weekly.

Phone: 03 443 5252 • Fax: 03 443 5250 Editor: Emma Conyngham • editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Journalist: Allison McLean • journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz Ollie Blyth, Student Reporter Advertising: 021 956 740 • adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz Admin: Benn Ashford • 021 956 740

admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Mail: PO Box 697, Wanaka

Deadlines: Display Advertising 4pm Friday prior to publication.

adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz

021 786 740 Classified Advertising 5pm Monday prior

Text: 0220 786 778

admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Subscriptions: $175 within NZ

(including GST) per year.

Overseas rates on request.

Remittances to

PO Box 697, Wanaka, NZ.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

WANTED Merino, if anyone has any Merino clothing to spare could you kindly drop it into the Salvation Army Family Store, 48 Helwick Street Wanted by the Salvation Army Family Store, if any one has any spare pillow cases we would love them, please just drop them into the store, thanks.

The Salvation Army Family Store is desperately needing good quality mens clothing and shoes. If you could please just drop these into the store or phone for a pick up for large amounts.

Volunteers welcomed at The Salvation Army Family store if you have some free time and would like to be part of a team which makes a difference, come and see us.

Wanaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy.

We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open from 8am until 7pm every single day.

Ph 443 8000.

FREE COMPUTER LESSONS for older people - Community Networks is offering one-on-one lessons in your own home on your own device or at our offices. If you are interested please call into Community Networks or phone 03 443 7799.

WHEELS TO DUNSTAN - free shuttle service is available to Dunstan Hospital or Alexandra specialist appointments, also linking with the St John Health Shuttle to Dunedin Hospital. For bookings, please call Community Networks on 443 7799.

JP SERVICES are available at Community Networks every Tuesday from 1pm2pm and Friday from 10:30-11:30am. Please book your appointment by ringing Community Networks on 03 443 7799.

FOODBANK - available for people in need. Contact Community Networks your local hub resource hub for social wellbeing services.

NOTICES Wanaka Salvation Army Family Store. Opening Hours – Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9.30am – 4pm.

We look forward to seeing you here!

Donations kindly received. Please drop them into the Salvation Army Family store or ph 443 5068 to book a pick up.

Cut rags (100% cotton) and drop cloths, only $7 for a big bag. Now in the yard container at Wastebusters.

Open 9-5 seven days.

Business Networking International.

The Wanaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning. Great networking opportunity to grow your business.

Contact Randal Dobbs for information 021 973 043 Rags, rags, rags ... little ones, big ones, cotton ones and drop cloths, available from the Wanaka Salvation Army Family Store 443 5068.

THE WANAKA SUN

Sun Views / Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Seeking more Chinese skiers is environmental folly

In a slap in the face to environmentalists and their traditional Kiwi and Aussies customers, Cardrona Alpine Resort has joined Snow Farm NZ and accepted a $16,000 grant from Christchurch International Airport. This is to be used to attract and do more business with Chinese visitors.

This in spite of increasing numbers of Wanaka’s traditional winter visitors now choosing to travel to North America and Japan for a better snow experience as they are being displaced from the crowded facilities here.

Making a mockery of Cardrona’s statements on sustainability and “going green”, the carbon emissions from the travel of these long haul visitors will exceed any efforts made by Cardrona to reduce emissions. This move must be frustrating for local environmentalists as they watch their efforts to inform and change behaviour on carbon reduction being ignored by very large local businesses.

It’s time to drop the ‘bulk numbers and price competitive’ business model for one that offers a higher quality product and environmental responsibility.

The Snow Farm can argue they have plenty of capacity, but it would be much more environmentally responsible to seek growth from closer to home. But of course, Christchurch International Airport is only handing out money to promote Cardrona valley snow sports to those that need to fly a very long distance.

Then, there is the other ever-present issue of whether our local off-mountain infrastructure can handle further pressure.

If these junkets are successful then inevitably one day there will be an offer

by Chinese interests to purchase Cardrona Ski Area. Money always talks loud so let’s hope when that day arises the Overseas Investment Office stifle it in the best interests of New Zealand skiers and the environment.

So, who is really Shaping Our Future? Not the local residents, but those whose sole focus is the growth of their business.

Noel Williams

EMPLOYMENT

DISTINCTION WANAKA SERVICED PERSON APARTMENTS REQUIRED MAINTENANCE

We are having to say goodbye to a very important person on our team and are now seeking the next dynamic and proactive person.

This is a permanent position – approx.

30 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand Please come into reception at 150 Anderson Road and fill in an application form.

w w w.th e w an akasu n .c o.n z THE WANAKA SUN

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Accommodation sector say no

The mayor has announced the proposed bed tax will be five percent, the lower end of the five to 10 percent level originally proposed. He says the bed tax has been set at five percent in recognition of the accommodation sector’s concerns. But he does not know what our concerns are. Despite multiple approaches from the accommodation sector, the QLDC has still not consulted with us.

The problem now is the Mayor has a revenue shortfall which will have to be topped up by ratepayers.

Ratepayers should vote No in the upcoming referendum because the proposed bed tax will not achieve the QLDC’s revenue goal. Voting No will send the QLDC a message they need to try harder on the alternative funding options. And the obvious option is to more vigorously pursue a return of some of the $437 million GST collected annually from the QLDC Visitor spend.

Peter Sutherland, The Moorings Motels

Queenstown Lakes District Council responds

In developing the proposed model the Council has engaged with central government officials, independent tax experts and a wide range of stakeholders from the accommodation sector and tourism industry. We have sought to ensure a wide range of perspectives were considered throughout. That process may not have included Mr Sutherland directly but there are many other representatives capable of providing valuable insight into the sector. We have also been very clear on multiple occasions the government has consistently rejected any proposal to share or increase GST. It’s simply not an option available to us.

There are only so many times we can ask the same question and eventually we must all accept the answer.

Mr Sutherland is also incorrect in his assertion that ratepayers will “top up” a “shortfall”. A key benefit of the new levy is that it provides a new capital revenue source which will effectively reduce the Council’s projected debt by close to 39 percent.

This is new money that has not been available to Council previously and will benefit all ratepayers through reduced interest costs and will provide greater flexibility for the Council to deliver projects which are currently unachievable because of financing constraints. This is the reason why any levy revenue should be applied to capital projects as the first priority. The additional revenue from the proposed levy would also enable the Council to either invest in projects that were deferred from the Ten Year Plan, accelerate projects already in the plan, and/or divert loan funding into alternative projects, all of which enable existing funding to be redirected into projects that directly benefit the local community. Ultimately this will be a major boost to the capacity to deliver high quality services to both our local communities and visitors.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In response to last week’s story: ‘Container mystery not solved yet’

Masterplan a statistical mirage

Bert Campbell: Still not tagged. What is wrong with the kids of this town?

After the recent publicity from Councillor MacLeod about the success of the Wanaka Master Plan survey I feel there needs to be some in depth analysis of the results and suggest the Sun carry this out for the public to get a balanced position. For example what I have looked at is: Only 1120 responded on line with 88% classified as "residents thus making only 986 residents 55% but only 542 residents in favour the overall direction the Master Plan was taking 72% but only 709 residents support some sort of road closure 71% but only 700 residents supported relocating car parking away from the lakefront 32% but only 358 residents supported a by pass from Anderson Road to Golf Course Road Percentages are deceiving. Hardly a mandate from 8,460 residents!!!!!!!!

Ard Jeans: Get a local artist to paint a mural

Michelle Williamsky: Def needs a self contained freedom camper sticker/permit.

Sharyn Gavin: How absolutely ridiculous! The view is everything - who in their right mind would block the Lake! Gobsmacked.

Virginia Evans: It’s horrible- move it. Mural- maybe paint the missing part of the beautiful view that is now corrugated iorn.

Uglification of Wanaka! Good luck in trying to move it though.. it's in the queue with all the abandoned cars over the hill Romeril Nicola: I reminds me of Christchurch and when they used them during the earthquakes. I don't like it at all and think it's a shame and an eyesore. I know I am not alone here.

Regards, David Smallbone

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

Legal Executive / Legal Assistant - Wanaka A full-time position has arisen for a legal executive or experienced legal assistant to cover legal administration and conveyancing duties in our Wanaka law office.

The successful applicant will have a pleasant manner, a willingness to work as part of a team and a desire to build relationships with colleagues and clients. Previous legal experience or a Legal Executive Qualification is required.

Apply by emailing your CV and covering letter by Friday 17 May 2019 to employment@cmlaw.co.nz

Matt Wilson: Funny our first world problems lol. You can still see the lake, or can you not?

Medical Receptionists Required We require two receptionists to join our busy team.

Must be available to work rostered shifts including weekends and public holidays.

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

Please send CVs & applications to Jan at careers@wanakamedical.co.nz Closing 17th May 2019 23 Cardrona Valley Road, Wanaka

www.WanakaMedical.co.nz

Wanaka Medical - Leading the Way

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

THURSDAY 16.05.19 - WEDNESDAY 22.05.19

THE WANAKA SUN