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Otago Regional Council is urging parents around the Queenstown district to plan ahead when using public transport to get their children to school, from the start of term 2 next year.

Queenstown skier Alice Robinson is a genuine contender for the podium in two events at the Winter Olympics in February. Robinson has followed up her historic Super G World Cup win last week by finishing second in the same discipline at the latest event in France.

Christmas is a time for full plates, full calendars, and full houses - but it’s also a time when hearts are under extra pressure. Often referred to as the "Christmas holiday effect" or "holiday heart syndrome" (HHS), December and January are the peak months for heart-related deaths in New Zealand and around the world.

Queenstown’s newest golf attraction is on track to officially open to the public early next year. The nine-hole, par 32 Gibbston Valley Golf Course designed by Kiwi golfing legend-turned architect Greg Turner has been carefully planned to offer a modern take on the centuries-old game.

Rescuers have been called to the Mount Brewster and Brewster Track area twice in the past week. Three climbers had to be rescued near the summit of Mt Brewster on Saturday afternoon (13 December) after they became bluffed – stuck with cliffs above, below and on both sides, a Maritime NZ spokesperson says.

Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team members’ specialist skills were called in at 5.30pm on Saturday (13 December) to help locate the two Australian-based climbers who died on Sabre Peak in Fiordland National Park.

Police Search and Rescue have recovered the bodies of two people from the Fiordland National Park. Police were notified at around 7:40pm on Saturday 13 December that the pair were missing, when another climbing party activated a beacon after the pair failed to return from their intended route.

Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade secretary Katherine Lamont vows she will keep fighting after a Parliamentary Select Committee has turned down her bid – supported by a strong national petition, for equal ACC rights for thousands of unpaid volunteer firefighters.

A 35-year-old Spanish man has been remanded in custody after Police observed what allegedly appeared to be a drug deal near Frankton, stopping two vehicles, one near Boyd Road, at 9.50pm last Wednesday (3 December), Constable Amanda Shute says.

Queenstown’s Frankton Road will exceed 10 million vehicle trips for the first time in 2025, making it one of New Zealand’s busiest single-carriageway roads. Resolving the district’s transport issues has been studied in multiple business cases spanning the past decade, during which time traffic volumes on arterial roads around Queenstown have approximately doubled.

Local brewery The Cargo Collective is set to put a refreshing spin on Queenstown’s summer with the launch of Cargo Eco Mode 3.5 % AVB – a bespoke trail ale crafted in support of the Queenstown Trails.

After thousands of rides (and treats) in cities including Auckland and Wellington, Uber Pet is officially launching nationwide - just in time for the busy holiday season, when Kiwis (and their four-legged friends) are out and about more than ever.

Alpine safety rescuers and experts are urging hikers heading into the backcountry, especially overseas visitors unfamiliar with the area, not to rely on social media for “realistic information” about the conditions and skill level required.

Leading Central Otago law firm Todd Walker (formerly TODD & WALKER Law) is proud to announce the launch of its refreshed brand identity, unveiling a new name, visual style and website that embody the firm’s continued evolution and commitment to clarity, connection and trusted legal expertise.

Two young Australian men in their early 20s off on a mission to climb Mount Aspiring (3033m) had to be rescued by helicopter just across from the Bonar Glacier on their journey in after suffering from severe exhaustion.

A visiting Australian father and son, stranded high on the Wye Creek Track overnight in just underwear after stripping to cross a badly swollen river, were finally rescued by helicopter about 8am last Thursday morning, (27 November).

Police netted 16 drink drivers in the Wakatipu area alone in a week (19 – 25 November) – 12 of the 22 nabbed in a mass, joint Queenstown Lakes-Central Otago Police Checkpoint operation stopped around Queenstown – the highest level allegedly blowing 928mcg.

A large section of Frankton Track will be closed for the majority of 2026 when work begins in January on a new wastewater pipeline between Queenstown and Frankton. The completed work will result in a larger, more effective wastewater system and boost capacity in the area.

A 19-year-old German tourist has been charged with careless driving causing injury, and his 18-year-old German passenger is still in a critical condition in Dunedin Hospital after their vehicle smashed into a tree on the Glenorchy-Paradise Road at 9.20am on Saturday (22 November), Police say.