James Beech

The life and works of Scottish poet Robbie Burns were celebrated by the Queenstown Scottish Society and Wakatipu residents in Arrowtown on Sunday, the 250th anniversary of his birth.

The cream of New Zealand and Australia's young violinists entertained Wakatipu residents in the Queenstown Memorial Hall at the Queenstown Violin Summer School Grand Finale Concert on Saturday night.

The first Family Stream Day in Queenstown yesterday revealed Horne Creek features more pollution-tolerant species, such as snails and worms, than expected in the lower catchment.

A Queenstown mountain bike guide and high-level rider is behind an action-packed "Week of Wonder" encompassing the eagerly awaited NZone Ultimate Jump Brake Burner and the second round of the Raboplus South Island Downhill Cup series next month.

At least 15 vehicles were sold during the first Queenstown Car Fair, held on the front car park of the Queenstown Events Centre yesterday.

The rare sight of an endangered southern crested grebe with two grebelings on its back caused a stir when the birds visited Steamer Wharf, on Lake Wakatipu, on Friday morning.

A rental car was retrieved by jet-boat, helicopter and Queenstown emergency services after it rolled off an Arthurs Point cliff and ended up submerged in the Shotover River on Saturday afternoon.

Tiny radio transmitters are helping native bats against introduced rats in a Department of Conservation project.

Queenstown Violin Summer School is "unique in the world" for its student support, daily contact hours and daily performing opportunities, a first-time teacher says.

The Big Yin returns to New Zealand - internationally renowned comedian Billy Connolly will have Queenstown in stitches in February as part of his first nationwide tour in five years.

Making friends in transitory Queenstown can be a challenge but a new venture is aiming to connect residents aged 30 years and over with each other from next month.

An Arrowtown model ship maker has offered to rescue one of the artefacts in the vast collection of late adventurer, photographer and historian Hardwicke Knight.

Almost half the motorists processed for drink-driving in the Queenstown Lakes District during the festive period were stopped by police in the first 11 hours of the year.

A multinational bank will relocate from its existing premises in Queenstown to share half the ground floor of the Post Office Precinct's new $20 million cornerstone building with New Zealand Post.

The only Israeli grandmaster competing in the 2009 Queenstown Classic International Chess Festival has been asked to withdraw by political activist John Minto.