Tracey Roxburgh

So far, this year has not been without its challenges for Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt.

Pupils at Wakatipu Kindergarten let their hands do the talking on Thursday, with green paint used to put their handprints on pieces of paper, protesting proposed cuts to early childhood funding.

Shoe designer Kathryn Wilson (left), with Dan Gosling, of Stolen Girlfriends Club, Winter Olympian Juliane Bray and photographer Chris Sisarich on top of the Remarkables yesterday during Veuve Clicquot's inaugural New Zealand "Clicquot in the Snow" event in Queenstown.

Queenstown Airport's $2 million runway lights project has been completed, with the lights expected to be operational on Monday.

While disappointed the High Court at Wellington has upheld the Charities Commission's decision to deregister the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, chairman David Cole told the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday in some ways it was also a "relief".

While the Queenstown Lakes District Council adopted a recommendation to confirm and sign an agreement with Junction Hotel Ltd for a land swap at Arthurs Point yesterday, councillors and Mayor Vanessa van Uden expressed concern no formal agreement had been made for the developer to demolish a building labelled an "eyesore".

Hundreds of seasonal workers were treated to a free lunch by NZSki in Queenstown yesterday, culminating in the "world's biggest snow dance" which people desperate for an income hoped would result in a much needed snowfall last night.

The Lakes District Museum is preparing for one of its biggest exhibitions to date - telling the moving story of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who went into hiding in Holland to escape the Nazis during World War 2.

The official opening on Thursday night of the Hilton Queenstown and the Kawarau Hotel, managed by Hilton, was the realisation of a long-term goal for Hilton Worldwide - a company that will not rule out a Hilton Dunedin.

Queenstown needed a convention centre and should look to Auckland for guidance in funding it, Prime Minister John Key said yesterday.

The Cinderella Carriage has arrived, the ice rink is ready, performers have made it to Queenstown and the resort is bracing itself for the 37th annual Queenstown Winter Festival, which officially begins tonight.

Mulled wine is being prepared, winter woollies are on standby and Queenstown is ready to party.

Mulled wine is being prepared, winter woollies are on standby and Queenstown is ready to party.

Arrowtown rugby supporters have been issued with a call to arms by Bulls coach Simon Spark before the team's final White Horse Cup defence of the 2011 season.

Up to 1000 skifield workers in Queenstown and Wanaka remain in limbo as all fields in the area stay closed because of a lack of snow.