odt odt

Three people and a dog probably could not have chosen a better - or more public - place to sink their jet-boat than in front of thousands of spectators at yesterday's Winter Festival Day in the Bay events on Queenstown beach.

"Snow in May never stays, snow in June is a welcome boon, but on snow in July you can rely" is the message from long-time Queenstown resident Vance Boyd, who says the fuss over the resort's snow drought is a byproduct of expectations raised by snowmaking technology.

Police suspect an "inside job" after 24 cash boxes containing nearly $2000 were stolen from Connectabus' Arrowtown depot early yesterday morning.

Warnings that Southland's Waituna Lagoon could "flip" - turn irreversibly septic - with the next heavy downpour have so concerned Ngai Tahu it is are bringing iwi elder Sir Tipene O'Regan to address Environment Minister Nick Smith when he visits next week.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has approved a recommendation to rename all bike trails in the Ben Lomond Recreational Reserve the "Queenstown Bike Park".

Rugby World Cup organisers are chipping in $30,000 towards a new $65,000 sprung wooden floor at Wakatipu High School.

Two Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade crews used an extractor to clear smoke from a smouldering fire at the Internet/Laundry, on Gorge Rd, reported just after 9am yesterday.

Air New Zealand resumed flights to Queenstown yesterday, with one from Auckland arriving at midday.