Online Editor

Luck was on soldier Robert Higman Sutherland's side when a pocket-sized bible literally saved his life during World War 1.

Seven-year-old McKay Watson, a Holy Family School, Wanaka, pupil, who is wearing his great-grandfather's war medals, admires his teacher Paul Cartlidge's New Zealand Army Territorial Force uniform at yesterday's Anzac Day service in the town.

I was at the game and the last 5 minutes I was on the edge of my seat. It wasn't worth looking at.

A clear message has been sent to developers that elevated, isolated landscapes should be protected from residential development, after a Queenstown Lakes District Council commission refused consent for a ski lodge/residential dwelling on the lower reaches of Mt Cardrona.

Friendly folk reminiscent of home and celebrity animals generating big bucks were the highlights of Lucy Ibbotson's trip to Ireland.

New Zealand is a special scenario when it comes to rugby. Not only does it have the most successful men's team in the history of rugby, but the women have won the last 4 world cups, dominating the international scene.

Jane Robinson, of Earnscleugh, doubted the bold blouse handed down from her aunt, which had hung in her wardrobe for 20 years, would ever see the light of day again. That was until she took part in the "Reboot Your Wardrobe" course at the 23rd annual Wanaka Autumn Art School this week.

Upper Clutha Historical Records Society secretary Graham Taylor (left) and stonemason Deane Weastell admire their handiwork after installing a 2.7m-high steel statue of a shepherd and his dog at the foot of the Mt Iron walking track in Wanaka yesterday, to commemorate the town's distinction of holding the world's first recorded dog trials.

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden upheld an election campaign promise to reduce council spending on consultants at this week's Wanaka Community Board meeting, when she challenged the need for a consultant on the proposed Cardrona community wastewater scheme.

A Wanaka business and a house owned by the same people have been targeted by burglars in what police say was a deliberate attempt - probably by someone known to the owners - to cause "serious and costly damage".

The third race in Wanaka's Riverrun Trail Series was held along the banks of the Clutha River in perfect autumn conditions on Saturday.

Makarora's people are a "diverse" bunch and so, too, are their creative talents, which will be showcased collectively for the first time this weekend, resident Ingrid Shepherd said.

The start of public ticket sales for Sir Ian McKellen's one man show in Wanaka in June prompted an early morning "flurry of activity" yesterday, and more than half the tickets for the English actor's Saturday night show have already sold.