Joe Dodgshun

What were you doing at 12.30pm yesterday? Chances are you were like hundreds of others throughout the region, out and about enjoying a brilliant Otago summer's day. On the dot of 12.30pm, Otago Daily Times reporters spoke to a handful of people about what brought them to their particular location. Here are their stories.

Deputy police commissioner Mike Bush says New Zealanders should be "acknowledged and congratulated" for their responsibility with alcohol and driving before New Year celebrations.

Queenstown's Kiwi Birdlife Park has been given one final gift to wrap up its 25th year in business - a happy and healthy kiwi chick, all the more special with today marking the second anniversary of the passing of park founder, Dick Wilson.

Thousands of "well-behaved" party-goers descended on Queenstown on Saturday night for the New Year's Eve lakeside fireworks celebrations and the inaugural EarthTonz music festival in the Gibbston Valley.

While today's scorching Gibbston Valley heat saw the majority of punters at the inaugural Earthtonz New Year's Eve music festival stay in the shelter of their camping quarters during the day, the setting of the sun brought out the crowds to join a core element dancing, sunbathing and soaking up the electronic beats of the predominantly international acts.

The tents are pitched, the first bands have strummed their stuff and excitement is building for today's main event at the inaugural EarthTonz New Year's Eve music festival in the Gibbston Valley.

The multimillion-dollar Bendemeer development, near Lake Hayes, is on the market more than a year and a-half after the original development went into receivership.

Organisers of this week's EarthTonz New Year's Eve music festival at Gibbston are adamant there will not be any traffic issues like those seen earlier at this year's Gibbston Valley Winery Summer Concert.

The countdown is on for the inaugural EarthTonz New Year's Eve music festival in the Gibbston Valley, with the first backstage marquees being erected and international acts soon to arrive.

Entries for next February's inaugural Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon, 5km, 10km and half-marathon races have hit about 200 a month after opening, with many more expected.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council has spent about $56,000 felling trees in its parks after October's violent winds, including $41,000 alone in a section bordering the Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd.

A week on from the delayed opening of Queenstown's Shotover Markets the driving forces behind the indoor market say business is getting busier by the day.

Children and the young-at-heart have this week got into the Christmas spirit by making a visit to Santa's Grotto Winter Wonderland at the Minus 5 Ice Bar.

A 25-year-old survivor of skin cancer plans to celebrate life one year since her last treatment by cycling the length of New Zealand, raising money for skin cancer.