Southland Mayor Frana Cardno had tears in her eyes yesterday after Conservation Minister Nick Smith announced he had refused concession for a commercial bus tunnel through two national parks - a decision he described as ''conservative''.
SkyCity Entertainment Group plans to make improvements to Queenstown's Wharf Casino, which it expects to take possession of next week, having gained unconditional approval from the Commerce Commission to buy the company.
Queenstown food lovers indulged in culinary delights at Crowne Plaza Queenstown's threesixty restaurant last week, when members of the Wakatipu Youth Trust's ''Beyond the Basics - Top Chef'' initiative took over the kitchen.
A worldwide movement which started in the United Kingdom in 2004 reached Queenstown recently, when St Peter's Anglican church in Queenstown hosted the resort's inaugural Messy Church.
Former Queenstown bartender Jason Clark made it to the finals of the 2013 Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year competition, held on a five-day cruise in the Mediterranean.
Westpac bank's chief economist predicts interest rates will remain low for the next two years - but believes there may be ''trouble brewing'' in the New Zealand housing market.
After seven years, Nick Ristevski finally got the itch to marry.
Wakatipu lost its winning way on Saturday, suffering its first loss of the season to a determined Maniototo side at Ranfurly, while Arrowtown returned to form in the second half of its match against Upper Clutha at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Motorists are being urged to take care over the coming weeks, with the after-effects of the snowstorm followed by the weekend's wild weather expected to be felt for some time.
All aspects of the Queenstown Winter Festival are to be reviewed, but the future of the annual event appears secure.
The first games in the second round of the 2013 Central Otago Rugby Championship gave both Queenstown sides a wake-up call.
The big winter party ended in style last night, as the curtain came down on the 2013 Queenstown Winter Festival.
It was handbags at high noon in Queenstown yesterday as 11 of the resort's businessmen put their pride to one side and their best faces - and outfits - forward, competing for glory in the 2013 Drag Race, part of the Queenstown Winter Festival.
Amy Carr (4), of Queenstown, concentrates during the Queenstown Ice Skating Club's demonstration performance on the Queenstown Winter Festival Winter Wonderland Ice Rink in the resort yesterday.
The Arrowtown Bowling Club raised $4500 on Saturday for the Cancer Society during its inaugural Shortest Day Longest Night Wild Food Festival.
The Southern Stampede ice hockey team will work on its defence for its doubleheader against the Swarm in Queenstown this weekend, following two close losses to the Canterbury Red Devils in the resort over the weekend.
Crowds at Earnslaw Park will tomorrow be treated to one of the annual highlights of the Queenstown Winter Festival, when otherwise reserved businessmen don high heels, short skirts and false eyelashes to compete for glory in the drag race.
Only the staunchest of Wakatipu rugby supporters braved the cold on Saturday afternoon to watch the 2012 champion side take apart Cromwell B in the final game of the first round of the 2013 tournament.
If there is a weather god, he came to the party in Queenstown last night, ensuring the 39th annual Queenstown Winter Festival began with several thousand bangs.
A Convention Centre was critical if Queenstown intended to market itself as a business tourism destination and enjoy the economic benefits that would come with it, guests at a business luncheon in Queenstown heard yesterday.
