Drowned man was a metre from safety
Drowned man was a metre from safety
An Australian detective who drowned during a rafting trip on the Shotover River was only about a metre from being pulled to safety when he lost grip of a safety rope.
Guy Williams
Mechanic told customer he would ‘smash’ his face
Mechanic told customer he would ‘smash’ his face
A mechanic threatened to track down a customer and "smash his face in" after a repair deal went awry.
Helicopter company fined for fatal 2018 crash
Helicopter company fined for fatal 2018 crash
A Wānaka helicopter company has been fined $315,000 for failures leading up to a crash that killed a pilot and two Department of Conservation workers four years ago.
High Court bins developer’s $14m damages claim
High Court bins developer’s $14m damages claim
A $14 million claim for damages by a Queenstown property developer against a Speargrass Flat couple he accused of extortion has been thrown out in the High Court.
Victim hopes new tests will prevent further pain
Victim hopes new tests will prevent further pain
Starting next year, police will have new powers to carry out random roadside drug testing.
Recidivist drink-driver jailed
Recidivist drink-driver jailed
A woman who drove from Dunedin to Gore while almost six times over the legal limit has been sentenced to prison.
Development to be publicly notified after poor report
Development to be publicly notified after poor report
The developer behind a luxury lodge proposal near Queenstown has decided to publicly notify it after an unfavourable planning report.
Fatal crash guilty plea
Fatal crash guilty plea
An Albert Town woman has admitted a charge of careless driving causing the death of Alexandra man Amon Saunders near Gibbston last month.
Freedom camping reduced
Freedom camping reduced
Closed borders and a strict bylaw have drastically reduced the number of freedom campers in the Queenstown Lakes district.
Queenstown visitors fail to show up
Queenstown visitors fail to show up
Queenstown businesses say Covid-19 has spooked Aucklanders out of heading south and a hoped-for influx has not eventuated.
Building work for development expected to start in 2023
Building work for development expected to start in 2023
Construction of the first buildings in a billion-dollar Queenstown development should start in 2023.
'Do better' in life: No jail for causing teen’s death
'Do better' in life: No jail for causing teen’s death
The mother of Arrowtown teenager Allanah Walker has told the woman responsible for her daughter’s death to "do better" in her life.
Car park set to relieve town centre squeeze
Car park set to relieve town centre squeeze
A new carpark on Queenstown’s Lakeview site could provide some relief for the CBD’s parking squeeze.
Tough times for mountaineering tourism
Tough times for mountaineering tourism
The South Island's mountaineering tourism industry is in survival mode, getting by on small numbers of local clients, a Queenstown mountain guide says.
'Bad-ass' runners with a masochistic streak sought for extreme race
'Bad-ass' runners with a masochistic streak sought for extreme race
Calling all "diehard bad-ass mountain runners with a masochistic streak".
Tree damaged in strong winds falls hurting two
Tree damaged in strong winds falls hurting two
Two people have been injured after a large branch fell from a tree in a central Queenstown park during strong winds this afternoon.
Aucklanders’ return will be a ‘godsend’
Aucklanders’ return will be a ‘godsend’
The return of fully vaccinated Aucklanders to Queenstown by Christmas will be a "godsend" for the resort, a long-time hospitality manager says.
Esther Whitehead wins QLDC seat
Esther Whitehead wins QLDC seat
Social activist and consultant Esther Whitehead has won the vacant Queenstown-Wakatipu ward seat on the QLDC, based on an initial preliminary result for the by-election.
MP calls for timetable on border reopening
MP calls for timetable on border reopening
The Government’s failure to provide a timeframe for reopening the border to Australia and rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine is risking the survival of businesses in Queenstown and other southern...
Three Queenstown men caught in online sex scam
Three Queenstown men caught in online sex scam
Queenstown police are warning the public about an online sex-chat blackmail scam after receiving complaints from three men.