Wanaka is in line for a new 7-metre $24,000, ''pre-lit, pre-decorated'', artificial Christmas tree - but not until next year.
The Queenstown Lakes District's self-described ''Christmas fairy'' Jen Anderson said she was fundraising for an ''absolutely beautiful'' tree. However, it could not be delivered before this Christmas and a 3-metre artificial tree borrowed from Queenstown would be used this year.
The temporary tree was being altered by an engineer to make it more ''structurally sound'' and would be in place by Christmas.
Ms Anderson said $1000 had been contributed to the cost of the new tree through a project by an enterprise class at Mt Aspiring College.
The natural tree used as a Christmas tree in the past was cut down last week to improve the view of Lake Wanaka from Ardmore St.
