Gibbston

Financially troubled property developer Dave Henderson vows to take back the $50,000 sculpture which was whisked away from the gates of his Anthem Vineyards, in Gibbston, by the receiver this week.

A tiny community in the Kawarau Gorge is in the running to be named the 2011 Community of the Year, part of the New Zealander of the Year awards.

"We officially declare this trail open" was shouted by an estimated 500 ecstatic Wakatipu residents and guests when the $1.4 million Gibbston River Trail was officially launched on Saturday.