James Beech

The buyer of Queenstown land valued at more than $7 million will have a rare opportunity to build accommodation higher than 10m to capitalise on views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables.

Natalie Lin (24), Christchurch born and Auckland based, says she is ''really excited and humbled and honoured'' to be the first New Zealander to reach the semifinals of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in eight years.

In the countdown to the opening night of the hit musical Chicago next month, James Beech continues a series of interviews with key cast and crew members.

In the countdown to the opening night of the hit musical Chicago next month, James Beech begins a series of interviews with the key cast and crew members.

If the devastating World Bar fire in Queenstown on Friday afternoon had happened late at night it might have been difficult to get people out, southern region fire safety officer Stuart Ide said yesterday.

Cruising the highways near Queenstown and beyond at the wheel of a luxury supercar - take your pick from a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche or Lotus - is the latest visitor attraction in the resort.

More than 4000 people have been ''razzle-dazzled'' by the Showbiz Queenstown production of Chicago and all shows sold out, except the matinee, which still attracted more than 300.

Queenstown residents may have to decide if it is time for a paid presence alongside their volunteer fire brigade.

Queenstown bartender Mikey Ball feels ''extremely humbled and pretty stoked'' to be able compete against the finest bartenders in the country this week in the hope of becoming New Zealand's first representative at the Diageo World Class global final.

Queenstown's status as a world-class tourist destination has enticed Telecom, Chorus and Vodafone to introduce cutting-edge technology to the resort, for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.

Kowhaiwhai Jug and Kowhaiwhai Bowl (2013) by glass sculptor Mike Crawford, of Nelson, are among 35 works by several prominent New Zealand artists in the diverse Review exhibition in Milford Galleries Queenstown from June 1 to 26.

Remarkables Primary School pupils will be able to see how their garden grows year round, thanks to a new tunnel house from real estate agency hoamz.

It is a Queenstown institution, known to countless residents and travellers around the globe.

Jetstar has added a new transtasman flight and will fly Australians directly into Queenstown seven days a week, just days after a new airline alliance between Qantas and Emirates opened the resort to tourists from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Faster internet uploading and downloading is promised by Vodafone when it introduces the next generation of mobile communication technology to Queenstown, the first location in provincial South Island, on June 20.

A female motorist was rescued from her upturned car by firefighters using the jaws of life and taken by St John Queenstown ambulance to Lakes District Hospital last night.