Tracey Roxburgh

The promoter of an independent school for Queenstown says the project is ''slowly making some progress'' but the announcement of an opening date is ''not imminent''.

Three people have been seriously hurt in a crash on State Highway 6 near Gibbston this afternoon.

More than 20 people, including two future pupils, braved the cold on Saturday morning to attend the dawn blessing of the Shotover Primary School site at Shotover Country near Queenstown.

Despite inclement weather - including a ''brutal'' weather front which swept through on Friday and early Sunday afternoon rain which sent spectators from The Hills in droves - the 2014 NZ Open has been hailed a success.

Queenstown's newest, and arguably the world's most scenic, par 3 hole was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key on Saturday afternoon.

They call golf a good walk spoiled, but Tracey Roxburgh made the most of a stroll at The Hills yesterday. She made a new friend.

Cris Judd has had his share of memorable moments as a choreographer, dancer and actor, but this week in the Wakatipu he is ticking off an item on his bucket list.

Seventy-five Bugatti enthusiasts are touring New Zealand in style, part of the 2014 New Zealand International Bugatti Rally - the first of its kind in New Zealand in 14 years.

Arrowtown will roll out the red carpet tonight, celebrating the return of the NZ Golf Open, last held there in 2010, with a massive street party.

A diversion to look at fish turned tragic for a minivan-load of tourists in Southland yesterday afternoon.

Aaron Smith has learnt a lot in the past year.

The Highlanders got a taste of home life in the Wakatipu last night when they were billeted by junior rugby players in Queenstown and Arrowtown.

A travel specialist based in the Netherlands has offered to do what the Queenstown Lakes District Council would not - give two German tourists $1400, the cost of a car crushed by a Lombardy poplar in Queenstown on January 17.

  A ''very temporary'' track has been cut through the Dart Valley, detouring around a massive landslip and newly formed lake to restore tramping access to the area.

It is a fine line creating a festive, fun atmosphere in a tourist town such as Queenstown, but also one that is safe and encourages personal responsibility. In the third part of our series Booze Control: Stop and Think, Queenstown reporter Tracey Roxburgh talks to a Queenstown Lakes District Council staff member about how they try to find this balance.

Within the next month Arrowtown cricketers, both young and old, will have a place to call their own on Millbrook Corner with the construction of the Millbrook Cricket Club's pavilion and toilets.