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Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claimed X Games silver in the women's snowboard slopestyle competition. In her first competition of the 2025/26 season, the 24-year-old snowboarder has laid down a marker for the weeks to pick up a slopestyle silver medal at the X Games in Aspen. Sadowski-Synnott, who will be part of a 17-strong New Zealand team heading to the Winter Olympics in Italy next month, counted a best run of 93 to trail only Great Britain’s Mia Brookes’ 96.33. She will look to further add to that count in the Big Air competition tomorrow morning. The result saw Sadowski-Synnott add to her X Games career collection, now with four silver to go with six gold and two bronze medals.

Promoting co-ownership: Sales consultant Kirsty Sinclair. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDSo you think you could never buy property in ‘unaffordable’ Queenstown? Local Harcourts sales consultant Kirsty Sinclair says for the past two years she’s helped friends and family members — non-couples — club together to buy something. ‘Co-ownership’, she believes, is "an absolutely brilliant way of finding a way to get into this market and remain in Queenstown". She recently helped, for example, three friends get into their first property in Shotover Country — "that’s going to be, you know, a life-changer for them".

Declan Malone. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDWith help from local businesses, a Queenstown man dropped off almost $3000 worth of ‘thank you’ goodies to Dunedin Hospital after a life-and-death medical event seven months earlier. Builder Declan ‘Diesel’ Malone says last May he literally dropped outside his work site, then, when admitted to Queenstown’s Lakes District Hospital, had a "massive seizure". Helicoptered to Dunedin Hospital, the 36-year-old spent a week in its emergency ward before coming right and going home. Completed recovered, Malone says it’s thought his seizures stemmed from overwork and stress.

Hampden is one of the places in Otago where speed limit changes are planned. PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESPublic submission on changes to speeds along North Otago’s coastal State Highway 1 finish next week. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is proposing speed limit changes on SH1 through Hampden, including the town centre and its northern approach. Under the proposals, the limit on SH1 between Lancaster St and Shrewsbury St would fall from 80kmh to 70kmh, and Shrewsbury St to Nottingham St will fall from 60kmh to 50kmh. Both zones will drop the speed limit from 100kmh to 60kmh when a turning vehicle is detected.

About 50 people gathered on Saturday to celebrate the official opening of the $1.5 million Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club building. "Let it be a sheltering haven for everyone." Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club chairwoman Isabella Aldrich said being part of the group meant not only learning rescue skills, but also forming connections and relationships that often last a lifetime. She recognised the Moana Rua Ladies Surf Life Saving Club as the foundation of the current club. The new $1.5 million Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club building was made possible by a wide range of grants and donations.

Guests gather outside St Mary Star of the Sea church in Port Chalmers for the unveiling of commemorative plaques and a memorial cross. "Fr Newport never expected to die when he was sent here as parish priest. These included Saint Mary MacKillop, of the O’Halloran and Cameron family, and descendants of Thomas Pound. Nicholas Newport Pound (left) and Ned Newport Pound are descendants of Thomas Pound, the parish school pupil and altar boy saved from drowning by Fr Newport in 1896. Sister Ann Gilroy, RSJ, speaks during the commemorative celebration at St Mary Star of the Sea church in Port Chalmers.

The Ride Smart, Boat Safe workshops are designed for jetskiers and small-craft users of all experience levels, from first-time boaties to seasoned operators looking to refresh their skills. Each session covers essential safety theory, helping participants understand boating rules, responsibilities and potential hazards. Alongside this, participants will receive guidance on trip planning and preparation to ensure safe, stress-free outings, as well as practical on-water skills training that provides hands-on experience with expert guidance. QLDC Harbourmaster and Waterways regulatory services manager Craig Fahey said the workshops were a proactive way to support safer behaviour on the water. Ride Smart, Boat Safe workshop dates:■ January 24, 9am-noon at Queenstown Coastguard■ January 25, 9am-noon at Wānaka Coastguard■ January 31, 9am-noon at Queenstown Coastguard■ February 1, 9am-noon at Wānaka Coastguard

PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDHilary Rose Smith knows well that life can change very quickly and so she has worked out the perfect combination in spending time doing the things she loves. The former nurse of nine years to Sir Tim Wallis had already had an adventurous life before settling in Wānaka 11 years ago. It was at that point that she took a break from nursing and assessed her own life. "Having Tim die was a life changing thing and then I lost my dad not long after that as well. Which was really nice because I was just my own boss, and I could schedule things when I felt like it.

Wānaka Police are urging people to lock their homes and vehicles as the latest string of break-ins happened over the weekend in Hawea. A number of vehicles were interfered with in Lake Hawea between Timsfield, Capell Ave, and Lakeview Terrace. Police confirmed there were nine vehicles broken into on the weekend of January 18 and one of those cars stolen then involved in an accident. Sen Sgt Cranfield reminded local residents there is a need to keep homes and cars secure. "We constantly give prevention advice to lock vehicles, but people don’t seemed to listen ... until they become a victim."

Social media was unhappy with the Waitaki District Council not organising a celebratory send-off for 2025. Most of these events are handled by willing teams of volunteers, sometimes co-ordinated by a commercial event planner, sometimes with a formal committee. But what defines a community event? The council needs to examine carefully why the public purse should be opened to significantly prop up any said event. These events relevant to a small section of the community are better dealt with by committees of like-minded volunteers and should not use council resources, neither monetary nor personnel.

Ceramicist Sam Mayell in The Pottery Lounge Queenstown. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMSA newly-opened ceramics gallery in Queenstown is also offering a novel twist on ‘paint and sip’. Sam Mayell Ceramics and The Pottery Lounge Queenstown, which opened in Earl St early last month, offer customers a two-for-one experience. Choosing from a selection of pottery pieces — cups, bowls, vases and more — they can sip on complimentary snacks and a non-alcoholic drink while spending 60-90 minutes painting their piece, getting inspiration from art books and stencils if required. The pieces are then glazed and fired in a kiln, ready for pick-up the next day.

Luxury lodge Pen-y-bryn has been put on the market by co-owners James Glucksman (pictured) and James Boussy. United States-born couple James Glucksman and James Boussy took over the luxury accommodation lodge in 2010, after moving to Oamaru from China, where Mr Glucksman was working as a health economist. "We’ve completely renovated it," Mr Glucksman said. "We get almost universal positive feedback both for the lodge and for the experience of staying in Oamaru," Mr Glucksman said. We were foreigners coming in, completely cold, and people really, really, really treated us well."

PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESA $3.69 million boost in government spending on New Zealand tourism campaigns has been welcomed in the Waitaki. "This funding boost is enthusiastically welcomed by Tourism Waitaki," Tourism Waitaki RTO general manager Heather Matthews said. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said more international visitors will be exploring regional New Zealand this year, thanks to a $3.69 million investment from the second round of the government’s Regional Tourism Boost. The latest round of the Regional Tourism Boost is supporting five new initiatives:■ A $459,000 project will entice Australians from the Gold Coast to explore the lower South Island, delivered by Great South and seven associated Regional Tourism Organisations. "The Southern Way campaign brings together Great South, Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Clutha Development, Tourism Central Otago, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism.

The Moeraki commercial poultry farm at the centre of an avian Influenza outbreak in 2024. "This project involves testing mallard ducks for avian influenza. "This includes avian influenza testing of mallard ducks in Otago, amongst other locations." Previous testing of mallard ducks, through the avian influenza surveillance programme, has shown them to be free of avian flu. As a result, HPAI is once again absent from New Zealand," the latest avian influenza surveillance programme annual report states.