North Island

Cyclist Peter Yarrell, QSM, has turned his love of the sport into a vehicle that’s raised hundreds of thousands for charity. On the eve of his latest Tour of New Zealand, he tells PHILIP CHANDLER why he’s stepping down...

By PHILIP CHANDLER Wakatipu High punched above its weight at the Maadi Cup secondary schools’ rowing regatta at Lake Karapiro in the North Island last week. Out of a record field of 2623 rowers from 122 schools, Wakatipu picked up one...

By GUY WILLIAMS Nick Seymour feels like he’s just come out of rehab. Although he’s never actually been in rehab, that’s how Crowded House’s bass guitarist feels about his fortnight’s spell in quarantine last month. Fresh off the plane from Ireland, where he’s...

By GUY WILLIAMS Queenstown adventure racer Chris Forne (pictured) admits to being ‘‘a bit apprehensive on the physical front’’ as he counted down to today's start of the eight-day GODZone race in Rotorua. Forne, a six-time world champion with his team...

By PHILIP CHANDLER Glenorchy's Anita Sloot is putting pedal to the metal in Cromwell today as one of only two women entered in the New Zealand Saloon GP, run by Speedway NZ. The 56-year-old, who’s registered to Cromwell’s Central Motor Speedway,...

By PHILIP CHANDLER Ace Queenstown ultrarunner Brooke Thomas says she received a ‘‘lovely’’ message from the Aussie whose length-of-New Zealand women’s record she’s just smashed. The 32-year-old nurse, who finished in Bluff last Friday night, completed the 3000km Te Araroa Trail,...

One of the biggest behind-the-scenes stars in Queenstown’s film and TV industry since the ‘90s moved to Auckland last Thursday.  Annie Weston discusses her move with PHILIP CHANDLER, reflects on changes she’s seen and explains why the TV commercial...

By PHILIP CHANDLER After taking just over two months to traipse the North Island, intrepid Queenstown teachers Susan and Ken McIntyre on Wednesday started trekking the Mainland. Susan, 57, and Ken, 60, who’ve taught at Queenstown Primary and Wakatipu High, respectively,...

By MATTHEW MCKEW Deadly bathsalts peddled as MDMA in Queenstown are putting young people in hospital as foreigners and others fund their time in the resort by drug dealing. Further, Queenstown’s top cop, detective senior sergeant Malcolm Inglis, says wastewater tests suggest...

By MATTHEW MCKEW The voyage of a lifetime awaits a Wakatipu High School student thanks to a Queenstown construction firm. Zoe Crawford’s been selected for a Spirit of Adventure 10-day development trip, which will see her join up with 39 other...

By TRACEY ROXBURGH What started as frustration about four years ago has morphed into a new business for a Queenstowner entrepreneur. Susana Tamega, originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, moved to the resort four years ago. In her home city it was normal for...