Marjorie Cook

The road to paradise can be less than perfect but once you are there, it's a dream come true, says Aitutaki kiteboarding instructor Jimmy Rimmer, of Hawea Flat.

A 'code red' may be issued for the Young Valley-Gillespie Pass circuit track today, closing it to the public.

Young children played a distinctive role in commemorating New Zealand's fallen at Wanaka's Anzac Day service and wreath-laying ceremony yesterday.

Wellington mountain biker Tim Wilding has promised to return and attempt to break the 5-hour mark at next year's Contact Epic mountain bike race around Lake Hawea.

The last thing on David Drake's mind today as he powers around the 125km Contact Epic mountain bike course will be chafing.

The water quality of Wanaka's community swimming pool is the best it has been for years, following the emergency replacement of a rusting old pump, filter and piping system this month, acting manager Dougal Allan says.

It looked like Jo Williams was going to win Saturday's Terrace Downs Defi, a new multisport event in Methven, by default.

A small helicopter-servicing company has spent the past four years carving itself a niche at Wanaka's growing airport.

The single-lane bridge on State Highway 6 at the Gates of Haast appears likely to be replaced with a sweeping two-lane bridge on a realigned approach, at an estimated cost of $28 million.

All Black captain Richie McCaw rates his 50-minute flight over the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in a F/A-18 Hornet fighter as "right up there" among experiences of a lifetime.

Wanaka multisporter Dougal Allan heads to China next week to compete in the Baise Outdoor Quest.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council says nearly $20,000 in fees charged by independent resource consent commissioner John Matthews in the Jelley case are comparable to those charged by similarly experienced commissioners and not expensive compared to any other legal or professional assistance the Jelleys could have obtained.

The latest work by Balclutha artist Sue McPhee is one of 41 pieces of New Zealand art chosen for an exhibition in Italy which commemorates the Battle of Monte Cassino.