The death of Kingston motorcyclist Peter Thomas Lockett last year was "another example of a combination of excess alcohol consumption and an inexperienced rider travelling at a speed too fast for the conditions", coroner David Crerar has found.
An initiative aimed at recognising the Lakes District's young volunteers has been launched by TrustPower and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Queenstown Airport Corporation "may" spend $100,000 annually over 15 years bringing about 80 homes in the Frankton area up to appropriate levels of acoustic insulation, its chief executive, Steve Sanderson, said yesterday.
The Queenstown Airport Corporation is confident its noise-boundary plan change, lodged yesterday with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, will be approved, after it carried out extensive consultation in the past year.
Blanket Bay executive chef Mark Sycamore's quest to be counted among the world's great chefs looks to be on target after completing a week-long residency as guest chef at the prestigious Hong Kong Golf and Country Club.
Amisfield Winery Bistro has been named as a finalist in the 2009 Cuisine NZ Restaurant of the Year Awards for the third time.
It has taken about three years of hard work, but yesterday morning in Queenstown the ground began to move at Queenstown Primary School in preparation for its $1.4 million teaching and learning block.
While low-cost airline Jetstar may be a tempting option for travellers in and out of Queenstown, Air New Zealand says having 18 aircraft fitted with advanced navigation technology could work in its favour, at least until September.
No appeals have been received yet on a decision by independent commissioners John Matthews and Andrew Henderson to allow 17 subterranean houses at The Hills golf course, in Arrowtown.
The New Zealand Malt Whisky Company plans to sell a 24ha site at Victoria Flats, Nevis Bluff, where it proposed to operate a distillery.
A hand-painted Wade Lewis snowboard, given to Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Clive Geddes last week, will be presented to the highest bidder in a silent auction this Sunday.
If you are heading up Coronet Peak today for a couple of quiet midweek runs, do not be alarmed if you see about 100 dogs and their owners scrambling to get on the chairlift.
In local circles, the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival Mardi Gras is known as the coldest night of the year.
Bayley's Queenstown hopes to cash in on a town "heaving" with tourists this week by auctioning 11 apartments and suites.
The presenters of Australia's Today show reckon they may have just solved New Zealand's "brain drain" problem, after being flooded by emails yesterday morning from expat Kiwis wanting to come home.
Closures in Milford and Doubtful Sounds to amateur fishing for blue cod have been extended, allowing for stocks to rebuild.
The biggest party of 2009 in Queenstown - lasting 10 days, including more than 50 events, attracting thousands of people and signalling the resort's official start to winter - has begun.
Hundreds have braved chilly conditions in Queenstown to take in all the sights of the 35th Queenstown Winter Festival Street Parade.
Tonight will mark the "official" start of winter in Queenstown as thousands converge on Earnslaw Park to launch the 2009 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival in style.
Prime Minister John Key is expected to announce a major funding boost - thought to be about $500,000 - for the inaugural Winter Games NZ in August when he visits Queenstown to open the Winter Festival tonight.
