Guy Williams

A Canadian tourist has copped a lucky break after she was caught with a cannabis pipe at Queenstown Airport.

Keeping a camera steady while suspended from an overhanging rock face was just one of the challenges Guillaume Charton faced while making his film about a Queenstown rock-climbing ''gem''.

The Department of Conservation (Doc) will carry out an aerial 1080 predator control operation across more than 20,000ha in the Dart, Routeburn and Caples Valleys this spring, as part of a South-Island wide operation that will cover about 70,000ha.

Kawarau River Station has been bought by the developers of Frankton's Remarkables Park for $8.05 million.

The Australians are coming to Queenstown by the planeload - it must be winter.

The first babies Madeline Lawn helped care for in her role as a community Karitane are celebrating their 21st birthdays this year.

Sunday's Queenstown Winter Festival action had a gastronomic theme that ranged from children digging for ice cream to grown-ups appreciating the subtleties of wine and food combinations.

The 40th running of the Dog Derby at Coronet Peak proved to be a slippery slope for about 60 dogs and their owners last week.

The broadcast of Australia's top-rating breakfast television show from Queenstown during the opening days of the town's Winter Festival has brought priceless exposure, a tourism chief says.

Queenstown Winter Festival events ranged from the wacky at Coronet Peak to gloved combatants whacking each other in the head for a good cause on Saturday.

Arrowtown relied on stalwart defence to prevail over a spirited Upper Clutha A, while Wakatipu made easier work of Maniototo in Central Otago Premier action at the weekend.

The owners of Queenstown's newest restaurant say there is nothing else like it in New Zealand.

Queenstown Winter Festival organisers are ''rapt'' with the public's response to the 40th annual edition of the event.

The drink-driving message is not getting through in Queenstown, despite a booze bus operating in the town for the second weekend in a row, police say.

Years of frustrations for motorists using the single-lane Kawarau Falls Bridge will be over sooner than expected after approval yesterday for a replacement to be built. 

Three building projects expected to come to fruition in the coming months are giving supporters of the Paradise Trust renewed hope after fire destroyed its historic homestead a month ago.

They say every dog has its day, and that day was in Queenstown yesterday when about 60 dogs and their owners ran down a snowy mountain.

Two agencies representing Queenstown's tourism, commercial and industrial sectors are urging Queenstown Lakes District councillors to vote to proceed with the council's convention centre proposal today.

The unbeaten Arrowtown rugby team expects a big challenge from a desperate Clyde-Earnscleugh this weekend.