James Beech

New entrants at Queenstown Primary School demonstrated their generosity towards those less fortunate by bringing home baking, pre-loved toys and books and pocket money to the school's first ''Giving Sale''.

Queenstown Art Society president Karyn Hitchman (back) and Cloakroom Gallery manager Andie King (front) present some of the 36 original artworks submitted on Sunday for the 2013 Locations Art Awards.

The young Wakatipu members of Corus Children's Choir were on song in St Peter's Parish Hall on Wednesday at their second weekly rehearsal for ''a Christmas gift to Queenstown'', musical director Emma Wilson (seated front) says.

Soul queen Bella Kalolo celebrates the release of her new EP Time and Space with a party in Queenstown and you are invited.

A century and a-half of service and sacrifice was celebrated by the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade with a formal awards ceremony and annual dinner on Saturday night.

Two passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries after a Connectabus skidded in wet conditions near Queenstown about noon on Saturday and crashed into a tree, narrowly avoiding falling into the Shotover River.

The Clutha River exceeded the first flood level warning at Balclutha last night after persistent rain in the high country over the past few days.

Pleasure boat owners are advised to check their moorings and secure dinghies and other small craft as lake levels rise across the Queenstown Lakes district today.

The rebranded Queenstown International Jazz and Blues Festival has unveiled a series of free community concerts in the resort and Arrowtown over the weekend, weather permitting.

Pros and cons for the recreational use of snowmobiles on conservation land were heard in Queenstown yesterday when enthusiasts rallied against proposals to limit snowmobile access, as outlined in the 2013 draft conservation management strategy for Otago.

It was the very definition of ''old school'' in Arrowtown yesterday, and it was hard to tell who enjoyed it most - the 492 pupils or the 35 staff members.

The party which pumps an estimated $57 million into the Wakatipu economy every winter is expected to deliver a programme packed with old favourites and new surprises for its 40th birthday in 2014.

Distinction Nugget Point Spa Resort Hotel, a luxury boutique property near Queenstown, is on the market and attracting ''a wide assortment of expressions of interest'', the real estate agent says.

TE Pupuke (The Swelling) is one of a series of four original oil on canvas paintings created by upcoming artist Rongomaiaia Te Whaiti, of Palmerston North, for her debut exhibition in Toi o Tahuna Fine Art Gallery.

SkyCity Queenstown croupier Holly Darling made the top eight finalists at the first Australasian Croupier Championship held in New Zealand last week.

Real Journeys co-founder Olive, Lady Hutchins cuts the cake to celebrate the 101st birthday of TSS Earnslaw, during a special return cruise on Frankton Arm for almost 200 guests from Queenstown and Arrowtown primary schools and Ripponburn Hospital & Home, Cromwell, yesterday.