Christina McDonald

The Queenstown Lakes District Council argues seven errors of law were made when the Environment Court granted consent for a Mitre 10 Mega hardware store on the Frankton Flats.

There is an ''absolute confrontation between the developers and planners'' regarding the Pak'n Save and Mitre 10 Mega projects for the Frankton Flats, Justice John Fogarty said yesterday, and he must decide whether the granting of consent for both proposals was justified.

There is agreement a double-lane bridge over the Kawarau River is necessary, but what design it should take and whether it should connect to Roberston St in Frankton is an issue in a three-day hearing which began yesterday.

Following an increase of false fire alarms in 2011 for Queenstown and Frankton, the fire service is impressed at the ''very pleasing reduction'' in 2012.

Boh Runga's advice for musicians wanting to make a living off their talent in New Zealand is to ''gig as much as they can'' - and with 17 upcoming shows as part of the Classic Hits Winery Tour she is certainly putting her own advice into practice.

Continued frustration at the one-lane Kawarau Falls Bridge near Frankton and Kelvin Heights has led to the Queenstown Lakes District Council resolving to send a letter stressing the importance of the bridge to the Minister for Transport.

New Zealanders are keeping up with a worldwide trend of 30% year-on-year growth in the use of broadband data.

The White Hill wind farm near Mossburn is proving a reliable generator of electricity and turbine reliability is rated above 99% over the past three years, Meridian Energy says.

Josh Emett, of MasterChef and Rata restaurant fame, and New Zealand's only Michelin star chef, praised the talent of competitors in the Market Chef competition at Remarkables Park on Saturday.

The future of rowing in Wakatipu looks to be in good hands.

Christina McDonald took a walk around the Queenstown Gardens with her camera over the weekend.

Children at yesterday's Teddy Bears Picnic were treated to face-painting, magic shows, entertainer Sunny Sky, a petting zoo, bouncy castle with not a cloud in the sky.