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Otago Daily Times
28-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Urban planning gives town ‘deferential' treatment
Arrowtown. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY An independent commissioner has questioned why Arrowtown should receive special treatment when it comes to the Queenstown Lakes District Council's proposed urban intensification variation. Hearing panel chairman David Allen, commissioner Ian Munro and Wanaka-based district councillor Lyal Cocks began the first week of submissions hearings on the proposal in Arrowtown yesterday. The variation seeks to amend the proposed district plan by increasing heights and densities in residential and business zones close to the commercial centres in Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton and Wanaka to enable intensification of development. It stems from a government mandate — policy 5 of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development — that urban centres have to zone for denser, more affordable housing. Almost 40% of submissions received came from Arrowtown residents or ratepayers, many of whom were horrified at the possibility of 12m-high housing — 11m plus a pitched roof — in the historic village, which could apply to 266 medium density-zoned properties. In a report to the panel, council resource management policy principal planner Amy Bowbyes recommended a rule be amended for that zone in Arrowtown, to enable a building height of 9m (8m plus a pitched roof), which was essentially two-storey development. In the lower density suburban residential zone in Arrowtown, she recommended a height of 6.5m, and restricted discretionary building height band of 6.5m to 8m. However, Mr Munro yesterday challenged the council's lawyer, Sarah Scott, of Simpson Grierson, on that. "I've had the, I'd say, pleasure of being invited to be a commissioner for nearly 40 years in this district, and it is just not the case that only Arrowtown has beautiful residential streets, one or two-storey houses, and has charming views of the [outstanding natural landscapes] behind them ... and extremely rich character and very high [amenity] values," he said. "Why does nowhere else in this district's urban zones get the same deferential balancing of this character and amenity if it's a valid resource consent management way to apply policy5? "The question is, if it's good for one part of the district ... why would we not ask for the same approach to be used elsewhere, too?" Ms Scott said there were "bespoke provisions" for other parts of the district, but from a legal perspective, Arrowtown's special recommendation was in the operative district plan (ODP) and proposed district plan (PDP). "Perhaps Arrowtown people have fought harder ... but the facts are, it's in the PDP, it was in the ODP and it's been recognised for some time." She told the panel the district-wide variation amends the proposed plan by increasing heights and densities in some urban zones, and by amending provisions to recognise the benefits of intensification, to ensure adequate amenity values were provided for within intensification areas, and to ensure intensification can be serviced. "It's very hard to draw a line in the sand here, but it essentially requires almost a merits-based assessment of the changes requested — it is actually about ensuring that the greater densities can ... be realised." Mr Munro questioned how that was not contradictory as it pertained to the discussion about Arrowtown. "The purpose of this plan change is ... to investigate what the correct amenity values and intensification areas are [across the district]. "Surely that opens the ability of submitters to say the correct amenity values in [their] intensification area is to have less intensification?" While Ms Scott said the council had treated such submissions as "out of scope", there was a pathway for the panel to respond to them. The hearing continues.
Otago Daily Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Winner encourages contest entries
Ōtepoti Dunedin musician Keira Wallace, 18, winner of the 2024 Play It Strange youth songwriting competition, is urging other young creatives to have a go this year. Winning the Play It Strange competition earned Keira a $10,000 grant, time in a recording studio, and the support of a mentor as they went through the process of recording their winning song Lambs Aren't Waking Yet . The Play It Strange charitable trust works to promote and inspire songwriting among New Zealand secondary school students through competitions and performance opportunities. The 2025 Play It Strange songwriting competition is open now to students in years 9-13, offering a top prize of a $10,000 new music single package, funded through NZ on Air, mentor sessions, a $1000 Rockshop voucher and an artist development session with Sole Music Academy founder Sascha Vee. Ten national finalists will also receive smaller prize packages. The competition closes on July 16. Keira was a Taieri College student when they won the competition on their fourth attempt with a songs quickly demoed in their bedroom over two days. "I kind of left it to the last minute, and I was hopeful but not really expecting to win," Keira said. "So it was very exciting to win and have the chance to work with my mentor musician Dave Kean on recording my song at Roundhead Studios in Auckland. "Alex Corbett produced the track and I had a friend there to play violin and mandolin — it was heaps of fun." A music video for Lambs Aren't Waking Yet was also created by Wanaka-based Bunker Street Film Co and included filming on location in Tarras. The single was released earlier this year through Keira's own distribution platforms, and they played release shows in Lyttelton and Dunedin. "The whole process was really fun — you get so much support with Play It Strange," Keira said. Receiving a $1000 Rockshop voucher was also a real bonus, enabling Keira to buy their first electric guitar. Now studying Music and Marketing at the University of Otago, Keira continues to perform solo and is also a member of shoegaze rock band Motheaten and folk-country duo Dolly Possum with Kristian Groves. "It's a different and enjoyable experience to perform alongside others in the band and in Dolly Possum," they said. "At university I'm taking an array of music papers, including composition and production, in the hopes of ending up somewhere in the music industry in the future." Keira heartily recommended the Play It Strange experience and urged other young musicians to give it a go as well. "It is an incredible opportunity." "I found it really inspiring and have been doing more recording at home — I'm working on an EP at the moment."
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Taking snow to the city
PHOTO: SUPPLIED Mons Royale creative director and co-founder Hannah Acland checks out the Wanaka-based company's new flagship store in central Auckland. The doors opened to Mons' first North Island retail space on Friday, featuring its high-performance merino wool apparel built for snow sports and alpine missions. In-store updates and snow reports would connect visitors with the slopes of Tūroa, Treble Cone, Whistler and Innsbruck in real time. The Britomart store is Mons' seventh retail location. Last year, it opened stores in Wānaka and Whistler, Canada.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Mudfish break drought with win
Matakanui caused the upset of the round when they toppled Arrowtown in the Central premier rugby competition. Running away with their first victory since 2023, Matakanui defeated Arrowtown 42-29 at Omakau on Saturday. It was a big occasion for the Mudfish, who recognised captain Dean Sinnamon's 100th game at home — which he played the week before away against Alexandra — and Sinnamon scored two tries in the romp. It was a big turnaround from their clash seven weeks ago when Arrowtown, who were also the last team Matakanui beat, ran away with a big 66-15 victory. Alexandra made the trip to Cromwell and returned home with a 40-26 win against the Goats. All the talk had been about Cromwell's vaunted scrum, which has been pushing teams around the park all season. But Alexandra were up for the challenge, putting in an almighty heave at their set piece and shifted Cromwell off the ball. All of a sudden Alexandra had two tries to show for it and were away. Centre Tyler Ford dotted down twice in the opening two minutes and converted his team's five tries to finish with a haul of 20 points. Cromwell scored two late tries through Peni Delai and Mitchell Condon to bring the scoreline back slightly. Alexandra (30 points) now sit second, giving themselves a little breathing room between them and third place Wakatipu (22 points). The Upper Clutha Rams, who are top of the table with 31 points, sealed a 28-14 victory against Maniototo to cap off their 12th jubilee celebrations. There was a bumper turn out for the clash and celebrations and winger Ulysse Martineau scored twice for the Rams The victory means the White Horse Trophy will stay with the Wanaka-based team. Alexandra are home to Wakatipu this weekend, Arrowtown will host the Upper Clutha Rams and Maniototo will face Cromwell. — APL
