inside:

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sunviews

Great rhythm this time

Woodystock rocks Luggate

Good deed, big win

Great spot to see grebes

Combined effort controls fireA fire which burnt 8ha of land near Tarras at the weekend is believed to have been accidentally caused by target shooters, the Otago Rural Fire Authority said. PAGE 3

While it has been “full-on” for harbourmaster Marty Black since two boating accidents on Lake Wanaka on New Year’s Day, he’s had “nothing major” since then. PAGE 2

THUR 08.01.15 - WED 14.01.15 WANAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

Boaties behaving over holidays

Caroline Harker

Wanaka Sun

A two-day-long search for a tramper missing in the Wilkin River area of Mount Aspiring National Park was called off on Tuesday afternoon when rescuers concluded he had drowned in the river and the body was trapped by water pressure in a gorge below where he was last seen.

He was Scott (Brock) Oliver, 41, of Wellington. Scott separated from the rest of his party at 6.30pm on Sunday to take a shortcut above a gorge in the upper reaches of the Wilkin River.

Wanaka Police search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson

said an intensive hunt by search and rescue volunteers from LandSAR Wanaka

tracked Scott’s footprints to above the gorge, but could find no trace of an exit.

“Tragically he would have attempted to cross in some apparently benign blue water and then been swept into the gorge and drowned,” Sgt Nicholson said. “It is very hard on the family to have to rely on us when they don’t have a body but there is nowhere left to search. There are a lot of sieves and holes in the river and huge water pressure. We are certain we know where he went into the gorge, and we are certain he has not come out.”

Story continues page 2...

Tramper drowned in Wilkin River

Bull rider, Darryn Bird, is pictured competing at the Wanaka Rodeo last Friday. Story page 16.

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PHOTO: MIKE JOHNSTON

PHOTO: LESTER DAVIS

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 2

Boaties behaving over holidays

New Year arrests up but improving

Wanaka - great spot to see grebes

While it has been “full-on” for harbourmaster Marty Black since two boating accidents on Lake Wanaka on New Year’s Day, he’s had “nothing major” since then.

“The whole area has been packed and we’ve been really busy thanks to the good weather,” he said. “It’s been like an old Central summer with temperatures around 28-30 degrees.”

Marty said while it was inevitable there would be some incidents with the record numbers of boats around, there had been no serious accidents or incidents since New Year’s Day.

“We’re not allowed to breath-test boaties, but there was no evidence of anything really bad there.” He said they had removed

a fallen tree from the Hawea River on Monday to keep it safe for kayakers, and had issued “a few” infringement notices for people not wearing lifejackets.

“The Glendhu Bay area has been orderly with lots of families enjoying themselves,” he said.

“The main thing is for everyone to use their common sense.”

On New Year’s Day three people were taken to hospital

after two separate accidents. The first occurred when a boat towing a rubber tube collided with a stationary boat by the beach at Glendhu Bay. Marty said two people who were riding on the tube had suffered moderately serious injuries and were airlifted

to the Lakes District Hospital in Frankton by helicopter.

The second incident occurred at the Waterfall Creek boat ramp, when a boat was being loaded onto a trailer. Marty said a wave lifted the boat and pushed it forward, and a woman standing in front of the boat received facial and other injuries. She was taken to the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre by ambulance.

“That was a freak accident,” Marty said, “but both incidents underscore the need to always be very vigilant around boats.”

He estimated there were 2000 boats on the water on New Year’s Day.

“I’ve never seen it so busy,” he said.

Continued from page 1...

The gorge area is above ‘Jumboland’ and is a 300m length of raging water and huge boulders, Sgt Nicholson said. Scott had been on a day walk to Lake Lucidus with his partner and her father and brother, and was returning with them to their campsite on the flats below the gorge, when he left the track to take a shortcut across the Wilkin River.

E i g h t s e a r c h e r s , including four river rescue specialists, spent all day Monday searching a kilometre-long area of the river, including the gorge, on foot and by air. A further ground and air search was carried out on Tuesday.

Pictured on page 1 are SAR river rescue team members Roy Bailey, Milo Gilmour and Bob McLachlan searching an area of the gorge. Their fourth team member was Mike Johnston. Other LandSAR volunteers involved in the search included Brent Arthur, Glenn Sherson, Dave Hoogduin and Rod Walker.

Scott’s father travelled to Wanaka from Hawera after the accident. Sgt Nicholson said he had assured Scott’s family that if the rest of the summer

was particularly dry or there was a significant flood, SAR would return to the area to look for the body again.

“We’ve got the world’s best volunteer SAR group right here in little old Wanaka,” Sgt Nicholson said. “We’ve got an ace river rescue team of eight or nine people. Fatalities are very hard for them to deal with because they are trying to help save people.”

Other Wanaka LandSAR rescues since Christmas included two on December 29 and three on January 3. On December 29 LandSAR rescued a tourist who developed suspected appendicitis after climbing Mount Aspiring, and another who broke his ankle while canyoning at Leaping Burn.

On January 3 there was another canyoning incident when a man broke his leg in the Niger Stream and needed an alpine cliff rescue. The same day a tramper sustained a head injury when she fell off a bridge over Cascade Creek, and a parapenter crashed on Mount Roy breaking his wrist. Sgt Nicholson said this was the only local person whom SAR had rescued during the period. He was Simon Neil.

More people were arrested in Wanaka this New Year compared to last, but the numbers are still well down on what police were dealing with a few years ago, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said.

Twenty-four people were arrested between Christmas Day and January 6. They were mainly younger men who had been drinking alcohol and were apprehended for disorderly behaviour, fighting and assault, although there were no serious assaults, Sgt Nicholson said.

“Ultimately we are quite happy with the behaviour of most people,

but having said that…we would rather not have 24 people who obviously left their manners at home.”

Sgt Nicholson said five years ago police in Wanaka made “50 to 60 arrests, if not more.”

Troublemakers now realised there were more police in Wanaka at New Year and the town was “more controlled.”

Two events in the Upper Clutha area which attracted large crowds of about 5000 each – the Rhythm and Alps music festival on December 30 and 31, and the Wanaka Rodeo on January 2 – had been largely problem free and were “obviously well managed,” Sgt Nicholson said.

About 20 people were caught drink-driving, a quarter of whom blew between 250 and 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath, which, under the new, stricter law, meant they received a fine and demerit points on their driving licence. The other 15 who blew more than 400mcg of alcohol per litre of breath would be summoned to court.

S g t N i c h o l s o n s a i d , disappointingly, the number of people caught drink-driving was similar to recent years. However, also disappointingly, the number of under-20-year-olds caught flouting the law was up, to six. People in this age group are not allowed to drink any alcohol

before driving.Members of the public

complaining about bad driving by calling *555 had also become “a very significant part of our day,” Sgt Nicholson said.

The offending drivers included both tourists and New Zealanders, with the latter often “impatient” on the roads, he said.

A foreign male driver had been caught doing 160kph on Cardrona Valley Road and has lost his driving licence immediately.

Some drivers still needed to learn the allowed speed limit was the maximum at which it was considered safe to travel, Sgt Nicholson said, not a speed goal to reach.

The Wanaka marina has become one of the most accessible places in the world to see great crested grebes breeding and raising their young. The birds are rare and vulnerable in New Zealand, with a total of no more than 300 pairs, all in the South Island. There are about eight nests around the marina.

Retired zoologist John Darby has been researching the Wanaka grebe population for more than a year and is pleased with both the results and the support of marina users.

“So far 17 chicks have fledged from the marina and there are another four nests with eggs

due to hatch,” he said. “I have [recorded] nest numbers both sides of the marina so [people] can watch out for chicks.”

One of the chicks nesting

under the over-bridge has been named Gregory. “Its leg was badly broken just before Christmas and it had to be amputated under anaesthetic

[by a vet]. Not at all grateful for this procedure, he pecked all the vet staff and me countless times - hence his name. He is doing incredibly well and has since put on weight.”

John said there are more than a dozen more eggs in the vicinity which he expects will hatch before the end of the month.

Grebes are unique in that they lay their eggs about 48 hours apart and in clutches. They generally lay three or four clutches of two to five eggs per season. They nest on floating vegetation attached to the lake bed, so are vulnerable to changes in the level of the lake which can leave nests either submerged or high and dry.

sunnews

Tramper drowned

Jessica Maddock

Wanaka sun

The Glendhu Bay area has been orderly with lots of families

enjoying themselves. The main thing is for everyone to use their common sense.

caroline Harker

Wanaka sun

caroline Harker

Wanaka sun

PHOTO: JOHN DARBY

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 3

sunnews

Water concerns

Combined effort controls fireJessica Maddock

Wanaka sun

After exceeding its water take for Pembroke Park, the Queenstown Lakes District Council has decided not to irrigate Allenby Park (pictured) for the second summer in a row. The Wanaka Community Board backs the QLDC parks and recreation manager’s decision, but it has left residents, who believe there is an obligation to water the reserve, upset.

T h e Q L D C Management Plan for Allenby Park does not make speci f ic commitments to keeping it watered, only to keep it managed as a Recreation Reserve. Only two parks in Wanaka are currently being irrigated, Pembroke Park and its neighbouring Wanaka Showgrounds. Wanaka Community Board chair Rachel Brown has noted that Wanaka is at capacity for

its reticulation and water treatment network, and that the town has the highest per capita water use in the country.

Irrigation restrictions came into force in Q u e e n s t o w n o n January 6 following hot weather and low rainfall coinciding with peak water usage.

Wanaka Community Board deputy chair B r y a n L l o y d s a i d water management is a balancing act: “We have limited resources to go around so we have to prioritise and unfortunately we do

have to make a few tough decisions. People look at the lake and think ‘how can there be a water problem?’ but there is one.”

Bryan said Wanaka’s high water usage is a shame in a town that is an environmental leader in many ways, noting Wanaka Wastebusters.

“I’d like us to be leaders in water management too,” he said.

The issue of the irrigation of Allenby Park is still open and discussions will resume after the holiday season.

PHOTO: MADDY HARKER

Thousands welcome the new yearWind and rain did not stop more than 4000 people welcoming 2015 with music and fireworks in Wanaka on New Year’s Eve.Three bands played at the lakefront event, including Mount Aspiring College band Near Armageddon, Versificator from Queenstown (pictured) and Devine, made up of Queenstown musicians who are currently studying in Dunedin.The organiser of the Queenstown Lakes District Council-funded event, Craig Gallagher, said there was also a ten minute fireworks display from midnight.

PHOTO: SOPHIE KENNEDY

PHOTO: GEORGE HEARD PRODUCTIONS

A fire which burnt 8ha of land near Tarras at the weekend is believed to have been accidentally caused by target shooters, the Otago Rural Fire Authority said.

The fire started on the evening of January 3 and was monitored for several days to ensure there were no flare-ups, the authority’s deputy principal rural fire officer, Jamie Cowan, said.

It occurred on private land near the junction of State Highway 8 and Ardgour Road, near the Lindis River, and burned grass which was “very, very dry” and about 20cm high, Jamie Cowan said.

Three or four families

camping on a site on A r d g o u r R o a d w e r e evacuated and the two h o u s e s w h i c h w e r e threatened by the fire were “well-protected” by the firefighters.

“We were lucky i t wasn’t too windy and there wasn’t too much fuel, and we were lucky to have the boundary of the Lindis River,” he said.

About 30 firefighters were called to the blaze, from the Otago Rural Fire Authority, the Tarras and Makarora volunteer rural fire forces, the Luggate, Cromwell and Alexandra volunteer fire brigades, a n d D e p a r t m e n t o f Conservation firefighters f r o m W a n a k a . A helicopter was also used.

Those stations were then covered by other

brigades, for example, members of the Frankton v o l u n t e e r b r i g a d e travelled to Cromwell to cover that area.

Jamie Cowan said the Otago Rural Fire Authority hoped to recover some of the cost of fighting the fire. The police were not investigating.

As of Saturday morning, there would be a total fire ban throughout the entire Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago districts a n d c o a s t a l O t a g o , meaning no fireworks or naked flames were allowed.

“The only thing we want to see is a gas b a r b e c u e , ” J a m i e said.

He warned anyone considering undertaking activities which could

create sparks to be extremely careful.

Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer, Ian Galloway, said crews had been called out several times since New Year’s Eve, to vegetation fires on Mount Aspiring Road, Cliff Wilson Street and Racecourse Road; a fire probably caused by a cigarette butt in the Wanaka town centre, and to help the police get a person down from the roof of a two-storey apartment block on New Year’s Eve.

He said the conditions were “extremely dry” and urged people to continue to be vigilant and report fires immediately, to enable firefighters to extinguish them before they spread.

Maddy Harker

Wanaka sun

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 4

sunnews

A good deed turned into a big win for Ross McKay when he returned a lost phone to its owner, Wanaka Four Square employee Charlotte Findlay. Ross was in Wanaka visiting family and working at Rhythm and Alps where the phone was found. When Ross returned the phone to the store, he decided to buy a lotto ticket, and after he heard that two of the New Year lucky draw tickets were sold in Wanaka he checked his ticket, discovering he’d won $10,000. Pictured: Ross McKay with his winning ticket and Wanaka Four Square owner/operator Cam Sinclair.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) is encouraging irrigators to carefully manage what water is still available as rivers remain low.ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker said dry weather has put several Otago river catchments at or below their minimum flow levels, which means irrigation must stop or be substantially reduced.Significant rainfall is needed to return rivers to normal.Peter Bodeker said council staff would keep farmers informed in advance of any further controls on water use so there would be “no surprises”.Meetings to discuss water management options, should dry weather continue, will be held this week with Central Otago irrigation company leaders.

Good deed, big winOtago rivers below or nearing minimum flows

PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Nairobi Trio come to Wanaka

N e w Z e a l a n d j a z z favouri tes , Nairobi Trio, will be playing i n W a n a k a a t P e a k Functions this Saturday ( 7 p m , J a n u a r y 1 0 ) . Now in their 25th year together, the band plays a variety of music from light, atmospheric jazz

to rock and dance. They include a selection of jazz standards in their shows but are best known for their original pieces.

T h e i r i n f e c t i o u s passion for music has seen them tour the UK, Europe, Australia a n d A s i a . Th e N e w Zealand Herald calls them “always worth

re-hearing” while The Strip calls them the “unsung success story of New Zealand music” and the Nelson Mail says they have a sound “all their own”.

The “trio” actually perform as a quartet when on tour, made up of Andrew Dixon ( s a x o p h o n e , f l u t e and vocals), Richard

A d a m s ( v i o l i n a n d vocals), John Quigley (guitar and vocals) and Peter Koopman (bass and vocals). Their l ive shows expertly weave spontaneous i m p r o v i s a t i o n i n t o their tight sets. A night of listening to these g e n t l e m e n p l a y i n g will have you on a musical high.

Maddy Harker

Wanaka Sun

The Wanaka Sun has one double pass to give away to their gig. To enter, email admin@thewanakasun.co.nz with your contact details and tell us: how many years has Nairobi Trio performed together?

ticketgiveawayticketgiveaway

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 5

sunnews

PHOTO: CHRIS GILLIES

Great rhythm this time

Rhythm and Alps took off its training wheels this time around with a second year that was smooth, calm and well-organised. After some logistical issues in 2013 led to long queueing times and issues with rubbish, 2014 provided the antithesis.

“It was a completely different festival this year,” Wastebusters team leader Bis Bisson said. “Everyone did a great job from the guys at the top to the volunteers. It had a great vibe. They’re on the right track now. I really enjoyed it.”

Facilities were clean and well-managed; there was an excellent recycling system; ‘love your tent’ graffiti encouraging festivalgoers not to ditch their tents and an overall emphasis on keeping it green. There were also plenty of toilet facilities, shorter queues and a sufficient but not stifling police presence.

Round two of Rhythm and Alps brought major worldwide acts such as Bastille, MØ and Chet Faker, as well as home-grown artists including State of Mind, The Drax Project, and Shapeshifter, who rang in the New Year on the Alpine stage. Wanaka’s own Arma Del Amor (Danny Byrd AKA Civilian Sol and Martine Harding) opened the festival with an epic electronica show featuring crowd-pleasers including Capture My Mind.

The night of December 30 was trap-heavy while December 31 provided a more varied

line-up. The Where the Wild Things Are stage kept going and going with DJs lasting past 7am on New Year’s Day, and the line-up totalling 45 acts over the two-day festival held in Cardrona Valley.

Drum and bass heavyweights Netsky and Chase & Status played a show at the Lake Hawea Hotel on December 28 offered to Rhythm and Alps ticketholders at discounted rates before both acts headed to Rhythm and Vines (in Gisborne) for headlining slots. Netsky’s Boris Daenen and Steve Script MC said they loved playing in Wanaka: “We love New Zealand and Wanaka is such

a beautiful place.”S p e n d i n g m i d n i g h t i n

the rain on New Year’s Eve didn’t dampen the spirits of festivalgoers, who donned plastic ponchos and gumboots and partied on through the hour-or-so long downpour. Crowd numbers were noticeably lower than last year but this didn’t seem to affect the festivities.

Event manager Chris Gillies said it was great to “work with a team who did nothing less than excel; a body of Wanaka people who worked collaboratively for an event. That was spectacular.”

H e m e n t i o n e d a “ h u g e improvement” on rubbish left behind after some workers

had felt “totally disheartened” in the 2013 aftermath. There were very low levels of severe intoxication this year, aided by a big investment in intoxication prevention by police and by a change to the way alcohol could be purchased.

O n e o f C h r i s ’ p e r s o n a l h i g h l i g h t s w a s m e e t i n g Australian musician Chet Faker and watching him perform. Chet Faker had requested a dog to pat before his performance, so Chris and partner Nikki Salmond took him their dog Manda (pictured).

“It was a pleasure. He is a very talented and grounded young man,” Chris said.

Maddy Harker

Wanaka Sun

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 6

sunnews

Dryland Half Bred Mt Brown Wanaka – New Venture

PETERS GENETICSwww.petersgenetics.co.nz

Contact 0272288119 or loweyanderson@gmail.com

*ADVERORIAL

S t a c e y a n d J e n Anderson have teamed up with Peters Genetics to bring you a Merino Romney First Cross (half bred). Using P e t e r s G e n e t i c s ’ fully-recorded stud ewes and a number of different sires, we have confidently settled with the Armidale Stud Merino Ram.

The f irst f lock of hoggets is a year old a n d w e a r e s e e i n g some great results. The ram hoggets are averaging 22 micron and the ewe hoggets 22.3 micron. These have good wool weights a n d e x c e p t i o n a l

growth rates.Our aim is to provide

you, the farmer, with a hardy dryland sheep with good wool, micron and healthy growth rates.

If you are interested, please call Stacey or Jen

Anderson to arrange a viewing time.

T h e r a m s a r e available for viewing a n d s a l e f r o m 1 s t J a n u a r y t o m i d February 2015 at Mt B r o w n , 4 4 7 A l b e r t Town-Hawea highway.

PHOTO: BRADLEY GARNER PHOTOGRAPHY

Koha-entry concert at The Nook

Wanakafest act Tunes of I is returning to Wanaka on January 13 to play a koha show with local artist Anna Van Riel. The show will be the first of a 2015 series called ‘The Nook’ to be held at the old Nook Road Nursery in Lake Hawea. Band manager Lauren Wootton said Tunes of I is excited to be coming back to Wanaka for the first time since Wanakafest.

“When they visited The Nook they fell in love with the surroundings. Their unique blend of dub/roots/soul and psychedelia fits perfectly with the summer vibes of afternoons in the sun,” Lauren said.

The house concert aims to provide for all musical tastes and will be family-friendly. Bring a picnic and a blanket for an evening of music and sun, starting at 7pm.

See classifieds for details

Maddy Harker

Wanaka Sun

Woodystock at LuggateThe inaugural Luggate New Year’s Day music festival has been hailed a great success and plans are underway to make it an annual event.Dubbed Woodystock due to its location – on a Luggate section belonging to woodcraftsman Woody McMartin and his partner Jan Piggott – the festival attracted more than 200 locals.Several local musicians entertained the crowd in the site’s natural amphitheatre, including Tony Kerr (pictured).

PHOTO: LEONE WARD

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THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 7

sunnews

Musical sistersCraig family sisters Lyla, 5, Ivy, 4, and Fenella, 6, have been learning the violin for the last two years. The girls call themselves ‘FLI’, an accidental acronym based on their first names. Their favourite song to play is Perpetual Motion from the Suzuki Violin Method. Their mother Melanie is a dancer while father Brad is a musician.

PHOTO: MADDY HARKER

PHOTO: NIKKI HEATH

Dogs gala

Country music festival, The Branding, was held between December 30 and January 1 at the Lake Hawea Hotel. The festival provided a camping option and artists included Australian singer and guitarist Jared Porter amongst the mostly kiwi line-up. Local favourites Jody Direen and Maggie Ruddenklau both performed. Jody Direen’s success as a country artist has taken her all the way to Nashville following her debut album ‘Here We Go’ and her more recently released songs ‘Loud’ and ‘Tattoo’ gained national media coverage. Maggie Ruddenklau has gained an ever-growing fan-base since she started performing in Canterbury while studying at Lincoln University.The festival was covered by grassroots digital media company Rural TV. Although predominantly a country festival, the expanded line-up included artists ranging from alternative-rock to soul.

- Maddy Harker

Country music festival

Sophia Fitzgerald, 12 and Freya Moore, 13, from Wanaka, enjoyed the Upper Clutha Presbyterian Holiday Gala on Saturday. The gala was well attended with live music, children’s games and a “beautiful dog” competition which attracted a large number of entries.

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 8

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THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 10

Lalaland bartender Shannon Sanderson came second at the national finals of the World Class cocktail competition with his own cocktail called “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Shannon’s creation was gin-based. The other ingredients included a citrus camomile tea reduction, lemon juice, egg white and a grapefruit rhubarb dust.

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 11

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 12

Four golds for AdamWanaka’s Adam Hall had a good start to 2015 winning four gold medals – one each in giant slalom and super combined and two in super-g races – at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) races held at Winter Park, USA, from January 4-6. The first IPC World Cup events of the season begin today in La Molina, Spain. The schedule originally included giant slalom races but had to be changed to slalom only, due to lack of snow. Wanaka-based sit-skier Corey Peters, who is already training in La Molina, said while the change “doesn’t really work in my favour as GS is my best event and slalom is my weakest,” there is a positive side. “The plus is I have four opportunities to do well in the slalom. We have made some good changes during training to improve my slalom so it’s a good opportunity to see how it goes.”Adam and Corey are preparing for the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships which take place between February 28 and March 10 in Panorama, Canada.

sunnews

Wanaka-based para-skier Corey Peters is one of four finalists in the Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award. If he wins, he will be a contender for the Supreme Halberg award. In the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award he is up against para-swimmers Mary Fisher and Sophie Pascoe, and world champion para-cyclist Emma Foy and her pilot Laura Fairweather. Mary Fisher won six gold medals at the2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships while Sophie Pascoe gained two golds at the Commonwealth Games.

Corey won silver at the Paralympic Winter Games last year.

There are 27 finalists in six categories for Halberg Awards. Of the finalists, 18 are in line for the supreme Halberg Award - the country’s highest accolade for sporting excellence. The winners of the Sportsman, Sportswoman, Disabled Sportsperson and Team of the Year award categories will be eligible for the top honour.

F i n a l i s t s i n t h e Sportswoman of the Year category are golfer Lydia Ko, rower Emma Twigg, canoeist Lisa Carrington, and shot putter Valerie Adams.

S p o r t s m a n o f t h e Year contenders are

Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick, NBA rookie star Steven Adams and world champion cyclist Sam Webster.

The annual Halberg Awards is the major f u n d r a i s e r f o r t h e Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, the charity set up by Olympian Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ). In 2013 the Foundation distributed 364 Halberg Activity Fund grants to physically disabled young people for adaptive sports equipment, lessons and camps.

The award winners will be announced on February 11.

Staff RepoRteR

Wanaka Sun

Corey contender for two Halberg awards

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 13

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THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT BOARD AND IN THE

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AND NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE WANAKA SUN.

Issue 695 Thursday January 08, 2015

Phone: 03 443 5252 Fax: 03 443 5250 Text view: 021 0849 0001 Text classified: 022 0786 778 www.thewanakasun.co.nz

Address: 5 Gordon Road, Wanaka Postal: PO Box 697, Wanaka

Editorial manager: Ruth Bolger editor@thewanakasun.co.nzJournalists: Jessica Maddock journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz

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Free delivery to Wanaka, Wanaka surrounds and Cromwell urban and rural mailboxes, PO boxes in Makarora, Cromwell, Haast, Wanaka, Albert Town, Hawea. Distributed to motels, hotels and cafes plus businesses in the

Wanaka central business district and to drop boxes in Wanaka and Cromwell.

THANKS BEN FOR YOUR AWESOME STORY.

THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I BECAME A CHEF

OVER 25 YEARS AGO.

WELL DONE THE LOCAL CAFE OWNER FOR

EVICTING THE LYCRA-CLAD BIKERS FOR

ABUSING HIS STAFF. NO PLACE IN OUR TOWN

FOR BULLIES

HOW CAN AN EMPLOYER FORGET TO PAY

THEIR STAFF BEFORE GOING ON HOLIDAY??

YOU’RE LUCKY THEY STILL TURN UP!

TO WHOEVER TOOK ALL THE CHERRY PLUMS

IN YOUGHAL ST - DID YOU HAVE TO STRIP THE

ENTIRE TREE? GREEDY & RUDE!

2000 VESSELS ON THE WATER...LOL TALK

ABOUT HYPE, FUNNY I DIDN’T SEE 2000 BOAT

TRAILERS AT THE RAMP

IF YOU RECEIVED A BEAUTIFUL BUNCH OF

WHITE OR RED FLOWERS IN A GREY POT FOR

XMAS. THAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE COW

RESTAURANT.

A YR AGO MY 2 YR OLD AND I HIKED TO MEG

HUT, SAW PLANE PASS, WE WAVED, IT TIPPED

WING AND WAVED BACK. MY DAUGHTER STILL

HASN’T FORGOTTEN. TO THE PILOT... YOU

ROCK!

THANK YOU TO THE 2 LOVELY PEOPLE THAT

HELPED MY DAUGHTER AND I WITH OUR BIKE

PUNCTURE ON SUNDAY.

SHOUT OUT TO SCOTTIE THE TAXI DRIVER

YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND ASSISTANCE MADE

OUR NEW YEAR’S EVE HEAPS MORE FUN

WHAT AN INVESTMENT THE “TOP OF THE

TOWN” ROUNDABOUTS ARE. TRAFFIC-JAM

FROM CALTEX TO THE MAZE 5 OR 6 TIMES

OVER NY.... ABOUT AS USEFUL AS THE HUMPS

ALONG THE WATERFRONT. PULL THEM OUT

Queenstown airport

Your report of Queenstown airport removing the public drop-off/pick-up zone is yet another example of the airport management’s disregard for its customers. Shunting brief visitors into the public carpark and straight out again just to drop off a passenger is ludicrous. Even the largest airport in New Zealand and shareholder - Auckland - makes adequate provision for public drop-off/pick-up zones at its terminals.The management appear ignorant of the fact it is not actually the “Queenstown” airport; it is the regional airport for an area extending from Franz Joseph to Roxburgh and south to Gore, and the fourth busiest in New Zealand. But the provision of parking for customers who journey from within the region well outside Queenstown is abysmal. We have to park at the airport. Very frequently, the “long-stay” carpark is full, with cars parked on the grass and across access-ways until there is no further space.Recently I managed to find the last available space and parked for an eight-day trip. Following were my daily parking-fees for a total of $92.00: Day 1, $25, Day 2, $7, Day 3, $7, Day 4, $7, Day 5, $7, Day 6, nil, Day 7, $25, Day 8, $7.When questioning the illogicality of these daily charges, I was informed that on day six I reached the maximum charge of $60 for a week, but on day seven while continuously parked, I began a “new” week so was promptly charged $25 again, despite this being a continuous stay of eight days. Further, I was told this was “standard international practice”, yet having lived, worked and travelled internationally for much of my life I’ve never experienced such absurd charging. Nor inadequate provision for customers who don’t live nearby and must have long-stay facilities.Now we can’t even drop off or pick up a passenger without having to enter a carpark, and an extremely crowded one at that, some distance from the terminal entrances. There is no provision for luggage trolleys and during winter travellers get wet or snowed upon. Everyone must come and go through the narrow pay-machine booth. Spaces for brief stops near the front of the carpark are usually full. Adding the claimed 36 new spaces to the whole carpark will achieve nothing.QLDC majority-owns this airport. Come on councillors and community board members, get your airport management to show better consideration for the customers in the wider region your airport actually serves. W.J.ThompsonWanaka

It’s summer, it’s sunny and it’s school holidays. Time to take the kids camping ma and pa, whether you would prefer to stay home in your superking soft bed, or not. How often do you hear adults reminiscing about their childhood holidays; “We camped by a river”, “We cooked sausages on the beach”, “We swam every day before breakfast”, “We played all day long.”Lifelong memories of childhood holidays are easy to create, yet some kids never get to go on holiday, never sleep in a tent or under the stars, never swim in a river.Camping is cheap, it’s easy and it’s fun. You can borrow a tent, or pick up a secondhand one. You don’t have to go far – there are plenty campgrounds around Wanaka. Some campgrounds are free, some charge a relatively small fee (compare it to a ticket to the movies, a takeaway meal or a cup of coffee). One of the recurring messages this Christmas was that the best present you can give is your time. So give your kid, or your neighbours kid, or your grandkid, a day or two of your time, and take them camping.They’ll never forget it.

Adam Feeley, Chief Executive of QLDC responds:

Adam Feeley, Chief Executive of QLDC, said that as a matter of policy, the council as majority shareholder did not interfere in any way with the day-to-day management of Queenstown Airport Corporation.

Scott Paterson, CEO, Queenstown Airport Corporation responds:

The airport is working hard to upgrade its parking system and the traffic flows to significantly improve the parking experience and safety for our users, which we acknowledge come to us from all over the lower South Island. The changes to drop off and pick up arrangements and the 36 additional carpark spaces (a 12 percent increase) reported by the Wanaka Sun are part of these changes.We accept that the daily long term pricing looks clumsy and is structured around a flat weekly rate of $60 per week. This will be addressed with plans to introduce a daily long term rate in the coming months. Also in the next few months we will be upgrading our website software to provide airport users the opportunity to pre-book parking online well in advance of their travel. This same tool will be used by the airport to provide parking specials.Unfortunately our ability to provide more public parking is difficult as we are currently constrained by the availability of space close to the terminal. Airport management is working hard on addressing this and it remains a priority for the coming year.

Guidelines for letters and

texts to the Wanaka SunThe Wanaka Sun no longer accepts letters or texts that directly respond to the author of previous letters or texts. If you wish to reply to another letter or text, stick to the topic involved and try to advance the debate so that other readers might join in the discussion. Correspondents should not engage in recriminations against earlier correspondents.

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Letters or texts may be edited for clarity, length or legal reasons.

Letters can be sent to editor@thewanakasun.co.nz with “Letters to the editor” in the subject line, or can be posted to PO Box 697, Wanaka 9343. Texts can be sent to 021986786. The Wanaka Sun cannot acknowledge receipt of letters or texts.

The Wanaka Sun reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters or texts without explanation.

EDITORIAL

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15PAGE 14

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02 20 786 77802 20 786 778For FREE listing text your advert toFor FREE listing text your advert to

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body & mindASPIRING MASSAGE WANAKA. Est 2004. Trevor Bailey. Full time massage since 1994 USA/NZ. Ph 4432993 or 0274222455. www.aspiringmassagewanaka.co.nz

AYURVEDA MASSAGE or another Ayurvedic treatment: A unique experience of self healing and relaxation. Call Martin 443 5712. www.ayurvedaora.com

GENTLE YOGA connecting movement with breath, & You. 9:30 WEDS 14, 21, 29 January 33 Gunn Rd. $12 classes. Mats available. Jennifer 0220974596

GET ON Board!!! Get in shape this summer with a new Standup Paddle Board. Call Miles @ Alpine SUP 0211858001

JOIN WANAKA taekwondo club to be fit be healthy and get more confident. All ages welcome. new year offer for new comer. contact: 02040152714 Lax facebook.com/wanakataekwondoclub

KYOKUSHIN KARATE WANAKA. New junior beginners class for 2015 commences 3rd February. Check our fb page for details. www.kyokushinnz.co.nz

LYMPHATIC CLEARANCE: Support immune system, relieve lymphoedema, swelling, pain. Cleanse. Gentle relaxing therapeutic treatment. Mon - Fri. Ph Maryann 03 4436463, 021 1101160

PREGNANCY PILATES - suitable for 2nd/3rd trimester. Stay strong, flexible and healthy throughout your preg-nancy. Call/text 0212078486

RECONNECT WITH a sense of deep peace and love for FREE! View 15 min film The Message at WWW.LIVING-PRESENCE.ORG

RELAX WITH LOMI LOMI MASSAGE: Therapeutic Hawaiian - warming, flowing, nurturing. Peaceful sur-roundings Mon-Fri. Ph Maryann 03 4436463, 021 1101160 Aloha!

SITNARONG MUAY Thai Boxing Classes Monday Tuesday Thursday. 9 Cliff Wilson St upstairs. Beginners welcome. Contact Sanna 0212010954.

YOGA FOR CANCER support, recovery for patients & caregivers--ANY desiring a gentle, restoring class. 9:30AM TUESDAYS St John’s Rooms from 13 January. Jennifer 0220974596

YOGA IN HAWEA! Gentle movement with the breath. 181 Cemetery Rd EACH THURS at 9:30AM from 15 January. $12. Jen 022 097 4596

HOT QIGONG at Hot Yoga Fusion. Come and enjoy deep relaxation for body and mind rejuvenation. Friday 7.15pm. Contact: James 027 528 0396 wanakaqi@gmail.com

employmentMOTEL CLEANERS required. Must be available week-days and weekends. Call 443 7285.

for sale1995 SUBARU Outback in great nic inside and out! 68,000K One owner in Japan and one briefly in NZ. $13,900. 0272226600

2006 POLARIS Sportsman 500 H.O. Quad bike. U.S. Spec, 1 owner, garaged, recreationally ridden only. Immaculate! 1300 miles and 166 hours. $6800 ono. Steve 027 222 6600

BABY LOVE Car Seat Front or Rear Facing $20. Also Booster Seat $20. Ph txt 027 3066120

BIKES FOR hire and sale at your local bike shop Good Rotations, 34 Anderson rd, Wanaka, www.goodrota-tions.co, 034434349.

FISHER PAYLEL Paprika Free Standing Oven with brand new Door Seals Good working order. Have changed to gas $160 ono ph txt 027 3066120

HUGGIES NAPPIES Junior Boys 16kg plus 16 per pkt. 3 Pkts $10 Bargain Ph Txt 027 3066120

LEAVING THE country sale...lots of bargains please call Jules to come and have a look... 0211505959.

LEKKIE SUMMIT motor kit selling quick! Want to elec-trify your bicycle? Come and see us! Good Rotations, www.goodrotations.co, 034434349.

QUALITY ELECTRIC-BIKES & beautiful classic bicy-cles at Good Rotations, 34 Anderson, Wanaka. www.goodrotations.co, 034434349.

for saleSTANDUP PADDLE boards & accessories for sale!!! Call Miles @ Alpine SUP 021 1858001

THE GOVERNOR’S golden lemon butter from Pirate Pickles at Wanaka farmers market from 3pm Thursdays on Pembroke Park

EXTRA SHOPPING on Saturday at the Salvation Army Family Store until 5pm from 20th December until 10th January (inclusive)

BELLE FIORE china, various items for sale. Plz con-tact 021 680 110 to view

noticeCOME JOIN us. Volunteers required by the Salvation Army Family Store in Wanaka. Please enquire at our store or phone 03 443 5068

DONATIONS KINDLY received. Please drop into the store or for larger items phone the Salvation Army Family Store on 03 443 5068

THANK YOU to Woody and Jan for organising and hosting ‘Woodystock’ in Luggate. My family and I will miss this great community so much. We are so glad we met such awesome friendly people. Keep living the dream!

FLAT HEAD CAFE for cold local beer and wine, great coffee and friendly staff. SH6 open 7 days.

FREE LARGE tv, crt type. all free: black polythene, good size underlay offcuts, bedsprings for sieving soil, 2’6” bed base, bike for parts. pick up lake Hawea. ph warren 027 205 0304

ORNATE PIANO - free! beautifully restored exterior in-cluding brass candleholders. needs tuning and tweak-ing. ph Warren 027 205 0304

THREE CHAIRS Hair Salon. Fully qualified styl-ist Stephanie Jackson has joined the team. Phone 4435898

WANAKA SALVATION Army Family Store Opening Hours - Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9.30am-4pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

WHO’S BEEN to Archangel or Bannock Brae? There are lots of fabulous local wine stories that we want to share with you! www.wanakawinetours.com WINETRAIL (946387)

EXTENDED SATURDAY HOURS - Salvation Army Family Store Wanaka is now closing at 5pm on Saturday’s from 20th December until 10th January (inclusive)

PLUNKET AGM – 10am Wednesday 14th January 2014 at the Plunket Rooms on Ardmore Street. Come join to lead Plunket into 2015.

FREE BUDGET ADVICE available at Community Networks by appointment. Call 4437799 or email info@communitynetworks.co.nz

GUITAR, PIANO and singing lessons, song writing and musicianship. For pure enjoyment or to performance level. Beginners welcome. Diana 021400857 / wanaka-musiccentre@gmail.com

servicesINLAND REVENUE are at Community Networks Wednesday 21 January 9am - 12.00pm. For help with personal or business tax,child support,student loans or family tax credits. Please call 4437799 to make an appointment.

JP SERVICES at Community Networks Tuesdays1pm and Fridays 10.30am. Please call 4437799 for an appointment.

NEED A DOG GROOMER? The Soggy Dawg Pet boutique & Spa - full pet grooming facilities with pro-fessional hydrobath.

QUALIFIED VETERINARY nurse - 16 years ex-perience styling k9’s & felines .call/text Sheryl 027443005”

NEED A portable chiller trailer for your function or wedding? Come and speak to us at Wanaka Liquor Centre. 1 Ardmore Street. Ph 03 443 1466

ROOF PAINTING old new colour steel all work guar-anteed painting in wanaka for 35 years ph Wayne 0272240662 or 034431715

SEWING REPAIRS an alterations. Prompt reason-ably priced service with a smile. Phone Sue 4432008 or 0272472181

STAINS, SPILLS and Oopsies. Call Jae Services Wanaka. We’ll take care of it. 443 1150

STORAGE: BOAT, caravan, container anything. un-covered, cheap. Lake Hawea. ph 443 6684.

TERRA SERVICES! For landscaping, clearing, grad-ing, & more. Fast, efficient. Great rates. www.ter-raservices.co.nz or ring Steve Rumore 027 222 6600

VINTAGE & CLASSIC CAR restoration, mechanical & electrical, motor home & caravan repair and resto-ration. Steve Rumore 027 222 6600

WANAKA WINDOW CLEANING professional, friendly, efficient service. Enjoy those mountain views. High, awkward windows a specialty. Paolo 021 0572505/ 4432420

WHEELS TO DUNSTAN:Free daily transport to Dunstan Hospital & Alexandra specialist appoint-ments. Also connects to Dunedin Hospital transport. For bookings call 4437799

WILSON’S PEST control & Window cleaning. Spider & Fly treatments. Do it once, do it well. Licensed & Accredited. Call anytime 03 443 6652 or www.wilson-services.co.nz

WWW.EASYVISA. CO.NZ for immigration and Visa advice contact your local Wanaka adviser. Live work stay, whatever the visa we have the solution.

WANAKA PHARMACY is your local pharmacy. We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open until 7pm every single day. Ph 443 8000

wantedTREBLE TONES is a women’s acappella group in Wanaka. We are looking for interested, experienced Alto I and Alto IIs. Kirsty 0272005111

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED. The Salvation Army Family Store, Wanaka requires your help. Please en-quire at our store or phone 03 443 5068

what’s onLALALAND HAPPY Hour daily from 5pm – 7pm. $5 tea cocktails from 4pm – 8pm.

LALALAND LOUNGE Bar Wanaka. Open daily from 4pm – 2.30am. Upstairs, 99 Ardmore Street.

TUNES OF I and Anna Van Riel will perform a koha (donation) concert at The Nook (Lake Hawea) on Tuesday (January 13). 7pm start.

WANAKA FARMERS Market from 3pm every Thursday on Pembroke Park, eat fresh and healthy, support local producers

WANAKA GUN club 100 compact sporting 11th janu-ary 10am

WANAKA TENNIS Upton St courts Vets Tournaments Sat Jan the 10 and Sun Jan 11, 8:30am. Spectators and supporters are welcome.

THURSDAY 08.01.15 - WEDNESDAY 14.01.15 PAGE 15

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Storage Space up to 86m2

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For more info and viewing call 027 246 7835

TREE SERVICES

sport results

ACCOUNTS AND OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Maternity Leave Contract – Starting February 2015

(Approx 20 hours per week).

The position involves general office administration responsibilities, accounts payable and receivable, and other duties required to provide support to the team.

The preferred candidate will have the following key skills and attributes:

• Experience in office administration and accounts positions.

• Highly computer literate with advanced skills in MS Office applications, specifically with MS Excel.

• Proficient with Quickbooks accounting software.

• Excellent communication skills and be a team player.

• Strong organisation and time management skills with good problem solving capability.

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Professional presentation and a positive attitude.

• Eligibility to work in New Zealand.

The primary responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Managing the day to day running of the office.

• Accounts Payable including invoice coding and processing.

• Accounts Receivable including customer invoicing, debtor receipting.

• General administration tasks as required.

• Assisting the sales team as required.

Please apply by sending your up-to-date CV along with a cover letter outlining your current situation and interest in this role to: nikki@pembroke.co.nz

EDITOR Maternity Leave Contract – Starting February 2015

Approx 20 hours per week

Wanaka’s local community newspaper is seeking to appoint an experienced editor to work in its busy office.

The preferred candidate will be:

• a community-minded, enthusiastic, people person.

• an efficient and organised editor.

• eligible to work in New Zealand.

• you will have an eye for typography and photography.

You will liaise with the news, sales and production teams to produce Wanaka’s longest running, weekly newspaper.

You will have the opportunity to lead a professional team covering commerce, culture, sport and community issues.

Please apply by sending your up-to-date CV along with a cover letter outlining your current situation and interest in this role to: nikki@pembroke.co.nz

notice

WANAKA RODEO RE-SULTS: Open Events: Bareback: 1 Ross Dowling, 2 James Pinfold, 3 Stuart de Ridder, 4 Tom Plunkett. Rope and Tie: 1 Anthony Perkins, 2 Timothy Evans, 3 Daniel Kennedy, 4 Michael Sanderson. Saddle Bronc: 1 Paul Rob-inson, 2 Graeme Gannon, 3 Jared Mee. Barrel Race: 1 Kendra Breen, 2 Kelly Burnett, 3 Kerry Macdon-ald, 4= Rachael Third and Rhondine Long. Steer Wrestling: 1 Ritchie Mor-row, 2 Scott GlasseyTeam Roping: 1 Anthony Perkins and Nev Sargin-son, 2 Ben Haugh and Kate Haugh, 3 Timothy Evans and Daniel Kennedy, 4 Pat McCarthy and Roger Mo-seby. Bull Ride: 1 Andrew Jamison, 2 Paddy Church, 3 James Pinfold. Second Division: Barrel Race: 1 Di Barkman, 2 Teresa Cot-ter, 3 Casey Irvine, 4 Nicky Milton. Bull Ride: 1 Roy Tisdall, 2 Henry Menzies, 3= Wyatt McAughtrie and Luke Barnett. Bare Back: 1 Mark Tweedie, 2 Robert Sheridan, 3 Maddo Taylor, 4 Wade Marshall. Saddle Bronc: 1 Joe Redwood. Rope and Tie: no times. Junior Barrel Race: 1 Geor-gie Sarginson, 2 Suzie Mor-row, 3 Hannah Morrow, 4 Grace Glassey. Junior Steer Ride: 1 Brendon Johnston, 2 Cody Milton, 3 Kuki Wick-liffe. Junior Calf Ride: no rides.

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Staff RepoRteR

Wanaka Sun

Canadian at home in Wanaka

sunsport

Canadian triathlete Krystyna Glavinovic, who is preparing for the Sovereign Tri Series Wanaka in just over a week’s time, said the event is one reminder of how good she has it in her new home, Wanaka.

Krystyna moved to Wanaka in 2011.

“My first full distance was Challenge Wanaka in 2011, I have done four more including one more Challenge and I will race again this year,” she said. “I love the half – I have done about 13 of these, for me it is just a matter of getting better and making my weakness my strength – that is cycling, and just going for it.”

T h e 2 6 - y e a r - o l d has been coached by Wanaka elite triathlete and world number five, Nicky Samuels for the past 18 months.

“I am a good age

grouper, not nearly good enough to be professional yet but I am at an age when I can choose to have a fulltime sedentary career right now or choose to do that later and dedicate my time to see how good I can be,” she said. “I

have made my intentions known to coach Nicky Samuels to see what I can do for the next couple of years. I train, race and work part-time at the Wanaka Community Pool. Everyone is friendly and it is great to interact with the community and

see how they are going in their own adventures.”

She said many local residents have a goal, a race or something going on in their lives and it rubs off on her.

“Of all the people I interact with, everyone i s o n s o m e s o r t o f adventure, triathlon, multisport, even rehab – everyone is involved in something. Weekends like the one coming up with the Ruby Swim and Sovereign Tri Wanaka are fantastic and sum up what this town and region is all about.”

Krystyna is competing in the stand distance race (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run). There are also the options of the short distance (300m swim, 9km bike, 3km run/jog) and the off-road triathlon (300m swim, 10km bike, 3km run).

The Ruby Swim event will be held on Saturday January 17 and the Sovereign Tri Wanaka will be held on Sunday January 18.

Nearly 200 cowboys and cowgirls provided a huge crowd with plenty of thrills and spills at the Wanaka Rodeo.The president of the Wanaka Rodeo Club, Lyal Cocks, said the organisers of the January 2 event were thrilled with the crowd of about 5000 people.“It was a very responsive crowd and really supportive of the competitors.”The contestants ranged from eight-year-old barrel racer, Dakota Tweedie, on a miniature pony to the overall winner of the rodeo, Anthony Perkins, who lives near Gore.The police said the large crowd did not cause any problems.Pictured: James Pinfold was placed second in the open bareback event.See page 15 for results. PHOTO: LESTER DAVIS

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Rodeo thrills large crowd