James Beech

State integration of a Queenstown special-character school may lead to competition with overcrowded Wakatipu schools for sites designated by the Ministry of Education, a hearing commissioner says.

A drop in total visitors across New Zealand in October is not a surprise to Queenstown tourism operators, given the catalogue of disasters in 2011. However, November's results could show the first sign of recovery since the Christchurch earthquake.

About 20 high-end New Zealand and Australian clients and their partners were shown what $635,000 worth of state of the art Italian auto technology can do when Ferrari launched its most powerful car yet in Queenstown for the first time.

The 2012 Classic Hits Winery Tour will be the last chance to see the Mutton Birds play live, frontman and solo artist Don McGlashan says.

The absurdity of our ballet boot camp has become almost like a perfectly normal and fun exercise routine, but we are now on the downward spiral to the Remarkable Men's Ballet performance on Sunday and the pressure is on.

Leading contemporary artists Gretchen Albrecht and Elizabeth Thomson will talk about their influences and careers at Dorothy Brown's Cinema before presenting their latest works at the Nadene Milne Gallery next week.

The Wakatipu Health Reference Group held its first meeting in Queenstown this week.

Queenstown Airport wants proof aircraft noise will be tolerable for children before a faith school in Frankton is granted consent to open an early childhood education centre and community hall.

The independent community group tasked with becoming Wakatipu's health champion and watchdog for the Southern District Health Board (DHB) meets for the first time tomorrow.

Senior Constable Chris Blackford, of Queenstown, on behalf of his fellow officers, gratefully accepts a gift basket of Christmas baking from Queenstown Primary School pupils (from left) Eve O'Connor (11), Tessa Paterson (11), Bjorn Pollock (11) and Leyland Rapata-Brookland (11) on Friday.

A special screening of the Christchurch earthquake documentary When a City Falls will be held in Arrowtown tonight and patrons are invited to bring a gift each for the city's children.

The main street of Arrowtown buzzed with villagers catching up with each other and with the sizzle and scents of mouth-watering dishes being prepared yesterday - and cars were definitely not invited.

Music and mirth will be on the bill when funnyman Gary McCormick and top blues musician Paul Ubana Jones take the stage "together again" for one night only tonight.

Some of the most romantic melodies ever written will be performed in the genteel surrounds of a Speargrass Flat Rd art gallery in a fortnight.

Popular public amenity areas near Queenstown will benefit from a $429,000 upgrade by the Department of Conservation Wakatipu area office (Doc) this summer.

If the good people of Queenstown feel the earth shaking over the next few weeks, they need not dive under the nearest table. Chances are it will be a dozen sturdy blokes performing an especially energetic grand jeté in unison.