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Mental Health by Katherine Froggatt

The highly anticipated Wakatipu Plunket Garden Tour is returning on Saturday, 21 November, offering a rare and exclusive opportunity to explore a diverse range of spectacular, private local gardens across the basin.

A 31-year-old Canterbury man will face two charges of assault with intent to injure after a person was allegedly punched, knocked to the ground then kicked in the head twice in Rees Street at 1am on Sunday, 1 November, Police say.

Changes at the top of QAC and our Council might trigger the relationship reset needed to ensure councillors - not QAC and senior council staff - govern our airport.

Carlyn Topp has served in multiple voluntary governance and community roles, at times juggling them all at once, while also managing two busy hospitality businesses and raising her kids.

When a drunk patron accidentally dislocated Kevin Mahmoudi Azar's finger during a night out in Queenstown, the French national later stomped on the man's shoulder with his Ugg boot.

Organisers of a Kingston charity golf tournament to support former Kingston Fire Chief Pete Ottley, unable to work for almost two years, have had to close off already extended registrations after several weeks with demand exceeding expectations.

In 1876, 150 years ago, our region’s first official library was built - The Old Stone Library. Queenstown Library is celebrating the huge milestone this month with a week of celebrations from 21 November, and a grand celebration on Saturday, 28, which will include a magic show, Harakeke weaving workshop, storytime and more.

Kawerau Gorge Road / State Highway 6 is blocked following a serious crash. The two-vehicle crash, called in about 3:10pm, happened on the highway just east of the intersection with Cardona-Roaring Meg Pack Track.

With Halloween lurking around the corner, Police are encouraging everyone to take a few simple steps to ensure the night is all treats and no tricks. Inspector Brett Callander, Manager of Community Prevention and Partnerships, says before the pirates and fairies go out and about, it is important to refresh about safety.

Queenstown will sparkle brighter than ever on Saturday, 31 October, as the Bhartiya Samaj Queenstown Charitable Trust hosts the annual Diwali – Festival of Lights.

Two people were taken to Lakes District Hospital after a vehicle crashed into two patrons dining at Frank’s, smashing into the front glass doors of the Ramada Hotel in Frankton at 11.40am on Saturday, 24 October.

While other teenage girls were preening themselves down at the local mall, Sharon Hargest was photographing Walter Peak high country farming life, skinny dipping in private bays and cooking for musterers – living the dream.

The legacy of a Queenstown woman with a heart for underprivileged Nepalese kids, who left almost $1million in rare collectable Queenstown artworks to locally based Orphans Aid International, is being honoured this month.

Te Atamira’s ever-popular weekly Community Nights have hit the road and will now take place once a month in Wānaka.

Occasional thoughts from Dr Compost – let us know if there are any topics you’d like the Dr to cover.

A woman whose vehicle rolled multiple times off a steep drop from Moke Lake Road around 10am last Friday, 16 October, coming to rest some 40m below amongst trees, was miraculously able to climb back to the road with a rope line and a little assistance, rescuers say.

MindJam returns this Labour Weekend, presented by Catalyst Trust and the University of Otago Division of Humanities | Te Kete Aronui. Tickle your brain as we tackle the big issues in a series of informal conversations, stitched together by some of New Zealand’s leading thinkers. 

Kiwi Park has welcomed three healthy kea chicks, the first ever born at the wildlife sanctuary in its 40-year history. Hatched just over three weeks ago, the chicks represent a significant milestone for the Park's conservation advocacy programme, with kea breeding in captivity having been tightly restricted across the country over the past 35 years!

Police are transitioning to a new phase in their search for missing woman Erika Rodrigues Coelho near Queenstown. The 47-year-old has been missing for a month. She was last seen on Friday, 18 September near Skippers Saddle.