Reverend Clay Peterson - Backbone to the Brazilian community

The Ministry of Education has decided to keep most of Queenstown's school buses for now, despite finding most students are not eligible for the free services. It signalled last year that routes could be cut where public buses already exist - sparking pushback from parents and principals worried about student safety and attendance.

A body believed to be missing tramper Connor Purvis has been found near Lake Ōhau. Search and rescue teams looking for the 20-year-old in the South Island's Mackenzie Basin said a body was found on the southern side of Mt Huxley about 9am on Wednesday.

The number of first-home buyers in Queenstown has climbed to an 18-year high, making up 19 percent of all the district's property purchases in 2025. That is despite soaring property prices and thousands of people on waitlists for affordable housing schemes - with one buyer facing a $600,000 average increase in house prices since he first started looking.

As people look forward to Christmas gatherings, New Year’s Eve parties and summer festivals, Hato Hone St John is urging everyone to prioritise their safety. The emergency ambulance service has faced sustained high demand throughout the year, and crews across Aotearoa New Zealand are currently gearing up for another busy Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve - peak periods where staff prepare for an increase in demand.