Tracey Roxburgh

Freestyle skiers and board riders have been enjoying the snow conditions and sunshine at the Remarkables, with shared sessions in the Stash terrain park recently.

Late this afternoon, Queenstown will take centre stage as the long-awaited inaugural Winter Games NZ officially open.

It may be another seven months before Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigators determine the cause of a fatal tandem hang-gliding crash at Queenstown in March.

Look first at the simple things before opting for new equipment or devices, energy auditor Andy Logue told more than 50 people in Queenstown this week.

Snowboarders and skiers are not the only ones enjoying a booming winter season at Coronet Peak, with gangs of youth-like kea now roaming around the skifield.

A specially built course at the Remarkables will be used this weekend as Winter Games NZ action gets under way at Queenstown.

Clients and invited guests were on hand to celebrate the relaunch of the Arrowtown Boutique Hair Company on Saturday and its transformation from "London Underground" to "Boutique Boudoir".

The clock started ticking on Saturday for a planned television project which will feature one of New Zealand's most successful chefs.

Flags, fanfares and flying athletes will mark the official opening of the inaugural Winter Games NZ in Queenstown on Friday.

She is described as the "heavy hitter" of the United States women's ski team and while all eyes may be on Lindsey Vonn during the forthcoming Winter Games NZ, the 24-year-old is treating it like any other event and trying not to become overwhelmed.

Wakatipu school pupils were treated to workshops with members of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra last week, when its Outreach and Education programme was held in the Wakatipu basin.