Community

The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust has been operating since 2013, working to grow and plant native trees and shrubs throughout the Whakatipu Basin. With 129,000 plants in the ground to date, the impact is starting to add up.

This Friday, 29 August, is Daffodil Day - the Cancer Society’s most iconic fundraising day of the year. For Queenstown and the surrounds, our local Cancer Society branch have been working on events to get the community involved and spread information about cancer.

If you want to know the benefits of ‘Buddying’ ask Big Buddy Beth Lyons and her Buddy Norah O’Connell.

Cook Around the World is an ongoing cooking series of free community workshops hosted by Happiness House in partnership with Lakes Multicultural Collective.

Both charities and companies need capital. How to achieve both profit and public good at the same time, especially in these economically straitened times, is the subject of our Catalyst Kōrero, later this month, Thursday, 28 August.

At Patagonia, we believe in using business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. When we opened our first store in Aotearoa in January 2024 - Patagonia Tahuna Queenstown - we set out to create more than just a retail space. We envisioned a community hub.

Qualifying for New Zealand work visas under confusing and difficult skilled migrant rules is proving to be a major, and sometimes heartbreaking, issue for many local migrant workers and their families.

Now fostering the young brains of 62 different nationalities and ethnicities, Wakatipu High School has employed a Portuguese Language Support person, and this week held a special Brazilian evening for Brazilian students’ parents.

In a world where it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the news, it’s often the small acts of kindness and community spirit that remind us of the good in the world.

Being part of positive change is one of the key drivers for me as your local MP and there have been some satisfying recent developments for the Queenstown Lakes.

July marks the global movement of Plastic Free July, encouraging individuals to be part of the solution to plastic pollution and refuse single-use plastic items for the entire month (and beyond). Why? So we can have cleaner lakes, rivers, oceans, and communities.

This winter, Remarkables Park Town Centre is proud to introduce a new community initiative designed specifically for the men of the Wakatipu.

Mental Health by Katherine Froggatt

What if just $1500 could bring joy to hundreds of local children, support families doing it tough, and promote sustainability all at once?

Nestled in the heart of Hanley’s Farm, the Hanley’s Farm Community Garden has quickly become a vibrant hub for connection, sustainability, and fresh produce.

Citizen Advice Bureau

Parenting is definitely no walk in the park. For many, the early years are full of challenges, adjusting to the new normal and learning on the fly.

From 15-22 June, 2025, Aotearoa will come together to celebrate National Volunteer Week – a time to honour the incredible contributions of volunteers who weave the threads of connection and compassion throughout our communities.

Winter brings a sharp rise in food insecurity across the region, with our recipient charities reporting a more than 50% increase in demand for food support programmes last year.

Mental Health by Katherine Froggatt