Dave Cannan

Winning awards is nothing new for Arrowtown entertainer Reg McTaggart, but he admits to getting "a bit of a buzz" about the latest honour bestowed on him.

Queenstown could be in for its best winter ski season this year, thanks to an expected influx of mainly Australian visitors, NZSki executives told a seminar in the resort yesterday.

The enthusiasm of younger generations to pay their respects to the men and women who served in the world wars bolstered the spirits of returned servicemen Allan Fisher, Frank Lindsay and Aubrey Nolan on Saturday.

Contact Energy's renewed plans for more hydro generation on the Clutha River will have a significant impact on Queenstown residents, even though they live a long way from the main proposed dam site at Tuapeka Mouth, a local teacher says.

Freedom campers who deposit human excrement and rubbish in many of the Queenstown Lakes district's scenic spots - and even in shopping areas - can expect a much tougher prosecution policy in future.

New York-born Margaret O'Hanlon was given a Heart of the District civic award recently, for her "huge contribution" to the Queenstown arts and cultural scene.

The small resident kea population at the Remarkables ski area near Queenstown has been supplemented by three permanent, but very flightless, additions.

Mayor Clive Geddes has his wish, the centre of Queenstown will "be like a tomb" on Anzac Day morning.

There were no prizes for guessing who was the most-wanted woman in Arrowtown yesterday - Autumn Festival co-ordinator Julie Hughes.

A dramatic increase recently in pollution incidents reported in Horne Creek, Queenstown and Bullock Creek, Wanaka is worrying authorities, who yesterday called for more help from the public to identify the culprits.

The family of Israeli tourist Liat Okin, who died on the Routeburn Track more than a year ago, has returned home after an emotional visit to Fiordland to see for themselves the place where she perished.

This is one story I'd hoped not to write this week.

A crisp, clear morning at The Hills golf course, framed by the spectacular snow-laced backdrop of the Remarkables, turned on its heels and conjured up a blustery southerly afternoon on the first day of the New Zealand Open in Queenstown yesterday.

If you've ever wondered what particular attribute separates weekend amateurs from golfers who make a living from the game, I'd suggest calmness in the face of disaster comes pretty close.

They don't make public booths like they used to.

I'd hate to think how many press conferences Sir Bob Charles has given since he won the first of his four New Zealand Open titles 55 years ago.