James Beech

Singer-songwriter Hollie Smith, of Auckland, opened her set with a rendition of Summertime in the packed Winehouse, Gibbston, on Sunday.

Organisers of Trenz, New Zealand's biggest tourism trade show, are banging the drum for industry confidence after a turbulent 2011, now that 302 buyers from more than 30 countries have signed up to attend the event in Queenstown in May.

Three areas of public conservation land, including an early moa-hunting site, have been created from 6500ha acquired by the Department of Conservation (Doc).

The revamp of Queenstown's dedicated youth centre continues with the flourish of a new logo created by nine young women in a project facilitated by a top design company in the resort.

Neil Harrap had just sent documents to his business partners in Turkey before returning home to speak to the Otago Daily Times, the latest of countless steps he has made over the years towards getting his $4 million Fly by Wire invention back off the ground after a damaging court case in 2004.

Worlds meet in an exhibition as an Englishwoman, a Scotswoman, an Irishwoman and a South Korean woman display the sights, sensations and stories they have experienced in New Zealand.

Bathe in the River made her a household name six years ago, but Hollie Smith said it was only in the past few years she felt it her place to sing it.

Queenstown's tourism industry is in "great shape and great heart" after coming through one of the most challenging years on record, departing Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt says.

TODAY 7pm: Singer, pianist and trumpet player Alastair Monteath plays jazz and blues classics in the Friday Jazz Club in Les Alpes. Free.

Outgoing Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt says it is not "sayonara", but "I'll see you later" as he prepares to take the reins of Asian operations for Tourism New Zealand.

The unmistakable aromas of the farm bring back memories for Westport-raised singer-songwriter Mel Parsons, who arrives in Queenstown with two actresses for an innovative show of original music, theatre and comedy one week today.

Arrested eco-warrior and Hollywood star Lucy Lawless guest-starred last week in the Top of the Lake television miniseries being shot near Queenstown.

The year 2012 in Queenstown is shaping up to be one for the history books, with anniversaries of the discovery of gold in Central Otago and service by TSS Earnslaw on the calendar now joined by a one-day exhibition celebrating 150 years of the Bank of New Zealand.

Remarkables Primary School wants extra classrooms built on site by the end of 2012 to cope with enrolment growth, only two years after the $17.3 million facility opened.

"This is so much fun," Gin Wigmore said as her tiny fists punched the air and she grinned from ear to ear.

Queenstown firefighters, ambulance officers and police officers gathered with residents and visitors on the village green on Tuesday for a silent reflection on the first anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake.

One of the contestants in the 2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition has released an atmospheric classical music video on YouTube.