Tracey Roxburgh

More than 70 musicians from the United States, Australia and New Zealand will entertain visitors and residents in Queenstown over Labour Weekend, during the inaugural Queenstown International Jazz and Blues Festival which replaces the previous Queenstown Jazz Festival.

Two people who have directly felt the consequences of addiction to synthetic cannabinoids, or legal highs, will speak at a free public information session in Queenstown next week.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council's backing this week of plans for an Arrowtown Community and Sports Centre has Murray Bennett, of Kelvin Heights, mighty pleased.

Two separate plan changes - relating respectively to a $300 million development in Queenstown and affordable and community housing in the Lakes district - are likely to be made operative after the Queenstown Lakes District Council's full meeting in Queenstown next week.

The safety of the Cascade Saddle, in Mt Aspiring National Park, came under the spotlight in Queenstown yesterday, when Otago-Southland Coroner David Crerar stated there had been ''far too many deaths'' in the notoriously treacherous area.

Speedwing flyer Sean Kerridge may have felt self-induced pressure when he took off for his last flight from the Treble Cone access road last year, moments before fatally crashing in to the hill below.

Defining mental ''competency'' will be one of the hurdles to overcome if New Zealand is to pass a Bill on euthanasia.

Rugby enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven on Saturday when the Central Otago finals day is held at the Queenstown Events Centre.