Latest issue

by Nikki Macfarlane, Queenstown Lakes Community Action

When Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) invoked emergency powers in March 2025 to discharge treated wastewater into the Shotover River, it sparked a wave of concern across the district. Social media lit up. People were outraged. The message was loud and clear: something had to be done.

Queenstown Lakes Community Action was born out of that moment - just a small group, driven by a simple idea: if we want change, we have to speak up. We took the first step by bringing people together in protest at the wastewater treatment plant.

We’re residents who care deeply about this place - its future, the environment, good governance, and having a real say in the decisions that shape our lives. Too often, those decisions happen behind closed doors. Too often, people feel shut out of the process. Too often, the community feels they’re consulted after the fact and not as an integral part of the decision-making process. We want to change that.

Our goals are threefold: give the community a stronger voice, hold QLDC to account, and make sure information is clear, accessible, and truthful.

Our first focus was the wastewater discharge. The lack of communication and consultation raised serious questions about how emergency powers were used - and how the community was left out of the loop. Since then, we’ve also given our attention to another major concern: the proposed relocation of QLDC offices. This decision carries financial, social, and environmental consequences for the entire district.

With local elections coming up, we’re also beginning to look at the candidates. Who’s putting up their hand to represent us? What do they stand for? What kind of leadership do we need? These are the questions we’re digging into because informed votes make for a stronger, fairer council.

We’re a small group, but we’re committed. We’re not here to make noise - we’re about listening, building relationships, asking questions, and having genuine community conversations. We know not everyone can agree on everything, and that’s okay. What matters is that people are heard. We might not always like the answers, but we deserve the facts and we deserve a voice. We’re willing to do the work. To research. To question. To communicate. To push for better.

This isn’t just about wastewater or council buildings. It’s about the bigger picture: how we rebuild trust in our institutions, how we care for our environment, and how Queenstown Lakes can be a place where everyone feels included. We want a future where decisions are made with the community - not to it.

We’d like your voice to be part of the conversation. What issues matter most to you and your whānau? Share your views anonymously in our short community survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/qlca_survey