Queenstown

Southern skifields preferred venues

BY NATHAN BURDON - © Fairfax NZ News

Queenstown and Wanaka are the preferred venues for the 2010 snowboard and freestyle junior world championships, the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced yesterday.

Hang-glider pilot fined for flying after licence revoked

A former Queenstown commercial hang-glider pilot was yesterday fined $4750 in the Queenstown District Court for flying without a licence.

DQ boss quits job after 8 months

BY WILL HINE - © Fairfax NZ News

Destination Queenstown chief executive Stephen Pahl resigned yesterday after fewer than eight months in the job, citing family and temporary health issues.

A force to be reckoned with

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The boys in blue played the boys in blue in a rugby game in Queenstown yesterday, with the boys in maroon proving the better side on the day.

Course through Wanaka stays

BY AIMEE WILSON - © Fairfax NZ News

Triathlon New Zealand gets to keep its original course through the centre of Wanaka for its national bike race on January 15, despite opposition from shop owners.

Tree fall investigated

The Queenstown Lakes District Council chopped down a rotting poplar around the corner from Russell Liggett's home a year ago but never checked the tree that killed him.

Oakridge companies go under

BY BEN HEATHER - © Fairfax NZ News

The developer of Wanaka's largest resort said he had lost everything he owned after it was placed in receivership when plans for a development next to it fell through.

Man killed by falling tree

BY BEN HEATHER - © Fairfax NZ News

A man died metres from his own driveway after his ute was crushed by a falling tree during high winds near Queenstown yesterday.

Falling tree causes death

Queenstown police have confirmed a person has died after a tree fell down on top of a ute this morning.

Revolt in Cromwell Country Club

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The Cromwell Town and Country Club is facing an "uprising", with a vote of no confidence in the committee on the table.

Gibbston river trail saved by fundraiser auction

A $1.4 million Gibbston river trail has been saved from financial collapse thanks in part to a few good bottles of red.

Couple charged with insurance scam

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

A Japanese couple have been accused of a holiday insurance scam in Queenstown.

Anxious wait for tourist rush

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Southern Lakes tourism operators who have enjoyed a lucrative winter will need to wait to gauge summer business because of changeable booking behaviour by foreign tourists.

Plans for Kingston could make route unsafe: NZTA

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Big development plans in Kingston could turn the tricky Devil's Staircase into an increasingly unsafe commuter route, the NZ Transport Agency said.

Officials dodge fines questions

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Government officials continued to dodge questions yesterday about overseas tourists skipping the country without paying traffic fines.

Minister mistaken: school board

BY SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Wakatipu High School board chairman Peter Doyle said claims by the Education Minister that his school would have sufficient space for at least 10 years were "absolutely ridiculous".

Queenstown Sallies looking for volunteers

BY SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Volunteers are being called for the Salvation Army's new "make a difference over a cuppa" companionship service for the elderly, which was launched in Queenstown this week.

eDay junk collection set for South Korea

BY AIMEE WILSON IN WANAKA - © Fairfax NZ News

Old computers, printers, cameras and mobile phones from homes in Wanaka and Queenstown are destined for South Korea, thanks to a national recycling initiative.

Hydroslide safety reports almost done

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Two reports into the safety of the fast hydroslide at Queenstown's Alpine Aqualand are "very close" to completion, almost three months after the slide was closed indefinitely.

Kingston plan has support: lawyer

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Massive expansion plans for Kingston should not be held up by the NZ Transport Agency's claim it will choke the highway to Queenstown, the developer's lawyer said.

Tourists may have to pay fines

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The Rental Vehicle Association said it was considering passing on customers' credit card details to the authorities, after copping criticism for protecting overseas fine dodgers.

Big-spending tourists '12-18 months' away

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Tourism operators would have to wait another 12 to 18 months before big-spending visitors returned to New Zealand, Queenstown businesspeople were told yesterday.

Marina on hold after agreement ripped up

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has pulled the plug on the $20 million Frankton marina after the developer failed to meet construction deadlines.

New primary school for Queenstown Lakes announced for 2021

BY SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced a new primary school for the Queenstown Lakes district but it will not open until about 2021.

Kingston expansion plan questioned

A plan allowing Kingston's population to quadruple was being driven by developer greed rather than need, one village resident said.

Queenstown pupils jump to year 7 for term

BY SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Parents of up to eight Queenstown Primary School year 6 pupils are taking their children out of the primary school and moving them to Wakatipu High School for the last term of year 7 this year.

Arrowtown man on mend after donating kidney

An Arrowtown man was recovering well in Sydney yesterday after donating a lifesaving kidney to his sister.

Dad emails PM on safety after daughter's death

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The father of drowned English tourist Emily Jordan yesterday sent an email to Prime Minister John Key requesting greater regulation of adventure sports.

Foreign visitors dodge fine net

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Overseas tourists in the Queenstown Lakes District walked away from $2.4 million of unpaid parking fines in the past five years by hiding behind rental car companies to avoid payment.

Arrowtown woman cheats death three times

An Arrowtown woman who cheated death three times in an accident that astounded experienced fire and police officers admitted two charges relating to the incident when she appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.

Frankton School open for business

BY SUE FEA IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The long-awaited new Remarkables Primary School can now open for enrolments after the Education Ministry finally approved the school's enrolment zone.

Pacific Blue goes directly to Queenstown

BY MARK HOTTON - © Fairfax NZ News

A perfect blue sky and water cannon arc from emergency services greeted Pacific Blue's inaugural international flight into Queenstown on Saturday.

Nine cars in Frankton Rd shunt

BY SUE FEA - © Fairfax NZ News

Police are warning Wakatipu motorists to observe the two-second rule after nine cars were involved in a crash along busy Frankton Rd during peak 8am traffic yesterday.

Retirement village given consent

Design and construction tenders are being sought for stage one of a significant retirement village in Wanaka.

Backpackers' contribution hailed

BY MARK HOTTON - © Fairfax NZ News

Frugal backpackers who spend up on experience activities are being hailed as the saviours of New Zealand's tourism industry.

Heli challenge back after eight years

BY AIMEE WILSON IN WANAKA - © Fairfax NZ News

International skiers and snowboarders are going back country for the World Heli Challenge in Wanaka for the first time in eight years.

Queenstown property 'six years' from next peak

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

It could take six years for the Queenstown property market to claw its way back to its heady peaks, according to a report out yesterday.

Party-town lure 'no excuse' for excuse for liberal liquor rules

BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Queenstown's party-town attraction was not an excuse for liberal liquor rules, Sir Geoffrey Palmer said.

Police want 2am closing in Qtown

BY MARK HOTTON IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

A blanket 4am closing time for bars in Queenstown did not go far enough and should be reduced to 2am to stop drunken disorder in the streets, a senior police officer said yesterday.

Queenstown man invents 'transport revolution'

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

It looks like a unicycle precariously balanced with a training wheel on the back, but a Southlander's invention could be a saviour for congested cities.

Irrigation topic of field day

BY CRIS JOHNSTON IN WANAKA - © Fairfax NZ News

Irrigation efficiency and management will be the focus of a field day at Hawea Flat tomorrow.

Arthurs Point house threatens to slide down hill

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

A prominent Queenstown lawyer is finding himself on an increasingly precarious perch as the slope below his house gives way.

Bar hours linked to trade drop

BY MARK HOTTON IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

A 25 per cent fall in his Queenstown bar's turnover could be directly attributed to mandatory 4am closings, Tardis director Scott Stevens told a Liquor Licensing Authority hearing yesterday.

Water failures big council cost

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Three big water failures in Fernhill in less than two months have already cost the Queenstown Lakes District Council $66,000.

Council gives go-ahead for pontoon and booth

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

Lake Wakatipu business owners operating off a wharf next to Queenstown's Earnslaw Park were yesterday given permission by the Queenstown Lakes District Council to build a ticket booth and taxi pontoon on the pier.

Developer denied earthwork permission

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

A developer was yesterday denied permission to conduct extensive earthworks in Queenstown after a council vote went to the wire.

Parking fines on the rise in Queenstown

BY BEN HEATHER IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The Queenstown Lakes District Council earned almost a million dollars from parking fines in the past year and takings from parking fines have been steadily increasing for five years.

Feral cat puts woman in hospital

PAINFUL: Queenstown woman Rebecca Cochrane received serious hand injuries after going to the aid of her cat Charlie, which was being attacked by a feral cat.

Queenstown woman Rebecca Cochrane never expected a run-in with a feral cat in her backyard would result in stitches, intravenous antibiotics, surgery and a week-long stay in hospital.

US billionaire cleared to buy Matakauri Lodge

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

United States billionaire and philanthropist Julian Robertson has been granted permission from the Overseas Investment Office to buy Matakauri Lodge, near Queenstown.

Airlines force more expansion

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN - © Fairfax NZ News

The arrival of two new airlines to Queenstown Airport within three months has forced a $600,000 expansion of the airport building to accommodate additional check-in facilities.

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