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High-ranking official's son charged after flying to Wānaka during lockdown
An Auckland man who allegedly breached Covid-19 lockdown rules when he flew to a Wānaka holiday home is the son of a high-ranking public official.
The 35-year-old and his partner, a 26-year-old woman, crossed the Auckland alert level 4 border using essential worker exemptions.
They then … View moreAn Auckland man who allegedly breached Covid-19 lockdown rules when he flew to a Wānaka holiday home is the son of a high-ranking public official.
The 35-year-old and his partner, a 26-year-old woman, crossed the Auckland alert level 4 border using essential worker exemptions.
They then allegedly drove to Hamilton Airport before flying to a holiday home in Wānaka in what police described as a “calculated and deliberate flouting” of the rules.
Police said the man and his partner would be prosecuted for breaching a government Covid-19 health order when they failed to return to their place of residence within the alert level 4 area after leaving for approved essential personal movement.
They would be summonsed to appear in court in the coming week, police said.
Mutiny in the south: Wānaka's plan to break free from Queenstown
A quiet revolution has begun in small town Wānaka with growing support for a plan to break free from domineering neighbour Queenstown.
Self-employed mechanic Dean Rankin has initiated the move through a petition calling for the Local Government Commission to review the structure of the Queenstown… View moreA quiet revolution has begun in small town Wānaka with growing support for a plan to break free from domineering neighbour Queenstown.
Self-employed mechanic Dean Rankin has initiated the move through a petition calling for the Local Government Commission to review the structure of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
He needed the support of at least 10 per cent of local voters, or about 1500 people, to push for change and had hit 1200 on Wednesday morning.
Rankin would like to see the Upper Clutha area, including Wānaka, Hawea, Luggate and Makarora, establish its own council.
What do you think of Rankin's proposal? Read more here and tell us what you think in the comments below.
Billionaire Peter Thiel's plans for a luxury lodge near Wānaka
American billionaire Peter Thiel wants to build a luxury lodge near Wānaka.
Plans lodged with the Queenstown Lakes District Council show a series of buildings set into the rural landscape on a 193-hectare site owned by Thiel at Damper Bay, near Wānaka.
The lodge has been designed by Tokyo … View moreAmerican billionaire Peter Thiel wants to build a luxury lodge near Wānaka.
Plans lodged with the Queenstown Lakes District Council show a series of buildings set into the rural landscape on a 193-hectare site owned by Thiel at Damper Bay, near Wānaka.
The lodge has been designed by Tokyo Olympic Stadium architect Kengo Kuma and Associates.
It proposes to accommodate 24 guests in 10 rooms and six in an owner’s pod. Continue reading here.
Children dunk hands in water as neon green substance flows through Queenstown
Excited children dunked their hands into an unknown neon green substance as it flowed through central Queenstown and into Lake Wakatipu, a witness says.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has launched an investigation into the incident, which saw the substance flow through Horne Creek for at … View moreExcited children dunked their hands into an unknown neon green substance as it flowed through central Queenstown and into Lake Wakatipu, a witness says.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has launched an investigation into the incident, which saw the substance flow through Horne Creek for at least 20 minutes before entering the lake.
Christchurch-based firefighter La Wanda Cowan was in Queenstown’s Village Green with friends on Sunday afternoon when they noticed the water change colour.
“It happened all of a sudden. It was crazy,” she said.
Read more here.
Covid-19 vaccinations ramping up again after level 4 confusion
Covid-19 vaccination centres are busy again after some initial confusion in the wake of this week’s alert level 4 announcement.
But resources for the vaccination roll-out are being diverted to test for the virus, prompting experts to warn of staff burnout.
In Queenstown, vaccinations at … View moreCovid-19 vaccination centres are busy again after some initial confusion in the wake of this week’s alert level 4 announcement.
But resources for the vaccination roll-out are being diverted to test for the virus, prompting experts to warn of staff burnout.
In Queenstown, vaccinations at Queenstown Medical Centre and Wakatipu Medical Centre had been paused as staff were redeployed to assist with community testing.
Due to the heavy swabbing load being experienced at the Queenstown Medical Centre, vaccination clinics have been suspended until next Thursday, August 26.
Southern Covid-19 vaccine programme lead Hamish Brown said seven pharmacies were still offering vaccinations.
More than 1800 Covid-19 tests were done in the Southern district on Thursday. The swab tests remained a vital part of the effort to halt the Covid-19 outbreak “particularly in areas such as Queenstown with a high-traffic airport, he said.
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