Tracey Roxburgh

Former University of Otago student and extreme sports enthusiast Sam Hazledine, of Queenstown, is one of 18 finalists in the 2008 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, announced yesterday.

The lack of affordable housing in Queenstown is affecting the district's tourism and workforce, a hearing was told in the resort yesterday.

A "system failure" at Alpine Aqualand on Sunday, associated with a severe frost that morning, has probably damaged a large heating coil beyond repair, Queenstown Lakes District Council chief executive Duncan Field said yesterday.

Two Queenstown "mixologists" will be competing against the best in September, representing New Zealand at the fifth annual 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup in Queenstown.

One former Queenstown woman has made it her mission to ensure pregnant and new mums have a choice when it comes to maternity lingerie, no longer having to resort to "pastel, strap them down boulder holders" - and one life-saving trust will reap the benefits.

The inaugural slalom under lights will be held at Coronet Peak this month, during the 2008 Volkswagen National Ski Championships.

Two Lake Hayes Estate residents are hoping to encourage others in the area to support the establishment of a committee representing the subdivision "to make a difference".

The Arrowtown premier rugby team, the Bulls, clinched the Otago Country Wide Premier Championship by beating Lawrence 8-0 in Lawrence on Saturday.

The battle to restore the dream of an early conservationist to create an island sanctuary for endangered birds in Fiordland has surged ahead, with the removal of 258 stoats.

There was "no compelling reason" not to appoint a new, full-time, paid team manager-ambulance officer to the Te Anau area, St John Southern Region operations manager Doug Third said yesterday.

Pupils at Queenstown Primary School got a lesson in balance on Wednesday when they were given six unicycles to use for the term.

Queenstown is not only the adventure capital of New Zealand, but also the romance capital and, from today, a store will cater to its romantically inclined visitors and residents, the founder of Joanna G, who insisted on being called Joanna G, said.

While night flights for Queenstown may be a possibility, there were "significant issues" to overcome first, Air New Zealand airline operations general manager Captain David Morgan said last night.

Two Queenstown businesses will, from next month, become shareholders in Bungy New Zealand in what has been labelled a "shareholding reshuffle".