Christina McDonald

Two months ago, Alex Grant was discussing a dream of opening a healthy fast-food outlet and juice bar.

Annabelle Jones had originally planned to compete in Milton on Saturday, but instead the pony rider was learning from an Olympic, world and national champion rider in Queenstown.

Pointed toes, puffed tutus, red lipstick, hairy legs and a rugby ball.

They've practised hard and tonight is their big night.

Heads turn when Hank takes to the street on his skateboard.

A year after he took over the chief executive's role at the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Adam Feeley jokes that he is not expecting Christmas cards from everyone in the district.

The eyesore known locally as ''Hendo's hole'', which greets visitors to Queenstown, is shrinking as the material dug out to make way for an underground car park is put back in.

Raw sewage from Queenstown's central business district sewer system flowed on to the road beside the resort's Christmas tree on Monday night and tourists were seen taking photos beside the tree against a backdrop of contractors mopping up the spill.

The long-awaited decision on whether ratepayers' money will be committed to the proposed $50 million Queenstown convention centre could be made next March.

A 50-year-old tourist who died after being hit by a car in Queenstown last night had gone outside to look at the stars, police said.

The controversial monorail proposal linking Queenstown to Te Anau Downs and subsequently Milford Sound could soon be approved.

It was a special day for a group of sightseers last Tuesday.

''It's in memory of my son,'' Frenchman Eric Soubrier said as looked towards his backpack which encased a weighty engraved stone commemorating his son and his son's friend, who died in 2010.

Queenstown Airport's first permanent biosecurity sniffer dog is already proving her worth, with 13 ‘‘busts'' in her first four days.

Cars were shut out of Arrowtown's main street yesterday in favour of tables for the town's annual long lunch.

A group of Arrowtown Primary School pupils won the regional final of the Bandquest competition in Dunedin last Monday.

Tori Reed has traversed most genres of music and has come to rest on mostly folk with country and blues influences at present.

Three teacher aides at Queenstown Primary School graduated last week with honed skills to help children whose first language is not English.

For a community in Uganda to have fresh water, $7430 is needed and it is hoped the money will come from Queenstown.