Tracey Roxburgh

Some motorists, described as "absolute lunatics", may get infringement notices after trying to bypass police roadblocks in Queenstown yesterday morning.

A gas leak of "potentially explosive levels" which caused the evacuation of a three-storeyed building not far from Queenstown Primary School yesterday was caused by a barbecue left stored in a cupboard with the gas bottle still turned on.

Peregrine Wines is the toast of the country after its Peregrine Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 won the premier award at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, considered to be New Zealand's most prestigious wine competition, from a field of 1579 wines.

Remarkables Park will officially launch its European-inspired summer weekend market on December 4, with traders advised to register early to guarantee their place.

The controversial alliance between the Queenstown and Auckland airport companies was discussed behind closed doors yesterday during a marathon workshop involving the Queenstown Lakes District Council and other interested parties.

A Queenstown bar and its owner have been ordered to pay more than $18,000 to its neighbour over an ongoing issue which has taken three years in the Environment Court to resolve, described by Judge Jon Jackson as constituting an "abuse of process".

"Challenging trading conditions" had been behind the drop across most areas of Queenstown real estate in October, but there were hopes loan conditions might be relaxed and more activity in real estate sales would follow, Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Queenstown spokesman Adrian Snow said yesterday.

Annah Stretton - despite popular belief - does not describe herself as a fashion designer.

In less than four weeks' time, the jolly man in red will take time out from his hectic schedule to make a special appearance at the Queenstown Events Centre during the Shotover Jet Remarkable Christmas Spectacular, now in its fourth year.

After months of waiting for a decision from New Zealand Golf on the future of its major tournament, The Hills hopes it may host the New Zealand Open again in 2012, general manager Sam Gent says.

Larger stormwater pipe will be incorporated into Queenstown Airport Corporation's runway end safety area (resa) to cater for a "100-year return event" when Frankton Flats was fully developed, the Queenstown Lakes District Council was told on Tuesday.

Lakes District residents will get first option on pre-release tickets for the first international concert in the Queenstown area since 2003, featuring Dr Hook and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, playing at the inaugural Gibbston Valley Winery summer concert next year.