Mark Price

As the Queenstown Lakes District Council moves to lease its four holiday parks to private operators, figures have emerged showing the Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Glendhu Bay sites should produce a cash surplus of $452,000 for the council in the 2012-13 year.

A group of about 10 protesters greeted Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Adam Feeley as he arrived to deliver a speech on democracy at the New Zealand Community Boards conference in Wanaka yesterday.

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain signalled to the New Zealand Community Boards conference in Wanaka yesterday the Government's desire for local authorities to work more closely together.

A new, circular, car-testing track on the Pisa Range high above the Cardrona Valley is almost ready.

Queenstown climber Ben Dare spent 22 hours helping injured companion Scott Scheele descend 500m down the side of Himalayan mountain Anidesha Chuli, or White Wave (6800m), earlier this week.

''No comment,'' they all said.

Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Adam Feeley says he is unable to say how many people will lose their jobs with the council through the current restructuring.

Two of the four-man New Zealand climbing party attempting the previously unclimbed mountain Anidesha Chuli, or White Wave (6800m), in the Himalayas, hope to strike out for the summit in the next few days.

The new swing bridge across the Matukituki River to the Roy Roy Glacier in the Mt Aspiring National Park is due to be load-tested this week in readiness for opening to the public.

A Ttsunami siren sounded over the Little Mt Iron suburb of Wanaka last night.