Queenstown hotel's makeover moving it upmarket
Stanley St’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites will be converted to ‘voco’ by the end of the year. PICTURE: MARINA MATHEWSThe owner of Queenstown’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites is moving the town centre hotel upmarket. IHG Hotels & Resorts announced this week the 227-room, four-star hotel, which fronts Stanley, Sydney and Melbourne Sts, will be converted to its premium ‘voco’ brand by the end of the year — the rebrand was first reported in Mountain Scene in 2024. The statement says the rebrand’s designed to ‘‘strengthen the property’s commercial mix, broaden its appeal across leisure and corporate segments, and support sustained long-term performance’’. Developed and owned by Australian company Pro-invest Group, it was the company’s first Holiday Inn Express in New Zealand, a brand it operates under a franchise agreement with IHG.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Epstein couple's Queenstown and Dunedin links
Couple’s ‘alpine retreat’: Longtime property managers for child sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein, had this Queenstown house on Alpine Retreat Rd built 20 years agoA Kiwi couple revealed to have run paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein’s properties also formerly owned a Queenstown section which they built a large house on. In 2003, the Gordons, who aren’t implicated in any criminal activity, bought a 3556 square metre section on Queenstown’s Alpine Retreat Rd, off Moke Lake Rd, for $500,000. In a property information memorandum in ’04, the couple’s address is given as Zorro Ranch. It’s not known if the Gordons ever resided at their Queenstown property, but they had lived in Dunedin in the ’90s after they’d been cheffing in the military, Karen for the navy and Brice for the army. The NZ Herald reports an Epstein trust listed Brice to receive $US2m, ‘‘if he survives me’’, just two days before Epstein committed suicide in 2019 in a federal jail.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Having a ball in Q'town
NZ Breakers majority owner Marc Mitchell at Queenstown’s Ayrburn last weekQueenstown's clearly on the radar of the New Zealand Breakers basketball franchise’s new majority owner. Kiwi-American businessman and lawyer Marc Mitchell last year bought the Auckland-based franchise along with several Kiwi investors and pledged to enhance its ‘‘NZness’’. Now Auckland-based, ‘‘I’ve been coming to NZ for over 20 years because my wife is a citizen,’’ he says. ‘‘Our family, our kids, we’ve skied here, we’ve been here in wintertime, summertime, every version of everything’’. As to whether he’s bought property here, ‘‘not yet, but we’ll see, we always enjoy our time in this region’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
No jail term for Frankton felon
A Frankton beneficiary convicted of burglary, theft and receiving charges has been spared prison because of his efforts to turn his life around. Police say Jones and his associate received a Toyota Hilux stolen from near the Wye River bridge, on the Kingston Rd, in late March of 2024. Early on the morning of April 20, they were driving the stolen Hilux near Lake Pukaki when they drove down a farm track, climbed a fence and stole two containers of diesel oil from a shed. Jones and his associate were eventually arrested and charged with two charges of receiving, theft from a car and two charges of burglary. Mountain Scene did not attend Jones’ sentencing in Queenstown’s court on January 13, but applied for a copy of Judge Mark Williams’ sentencing remarks.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Jeweller on world stage
For a performance during Munich Jewellery Week, Jessica Winchcombe will wear a cape adorned with jewellery by herself and three other NZ contemporary jewellers who’ll also be on the trip. PICTURE: PAUL GREENRenowned Queenstown contemporary jeweller Jessica Winchcombe’s about to play a major role in Germany’s prestigious Munich Jewellery Week — considered to be as big as Paris Fashion Week is in the world of fashion. ‘‘We’re going to have these beautiful capes dripping in jewellery, and we’re walking through this museum’’ — the Pinakothek der Moderne. Creative NZ’s made a ‘‘substantial’’ contribution towards the ‘Aotearoa Exchange’ performance in Munich. Winchcombe’s also bringing over one of her Level 3 jewellery students, Queenstowner Lucia Guy, ‘‘to see what the world stage looks like’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Helping forge connections, relationships
Photo: Sam HendersonSizzling sausages and sunny skies last Thursday marked the start of the social calendar for Enabling Love & Friendship. Members of the Dunedin-based group, dedicated to fostering relationships for people with disabilities, gathered for their first official event of 2026. A weekly coffee club acts as a regular gathering point for about 45 Dunedin members. Topics include friendship skills, sexuality, emotions, communication, participation, drama and meeting others. It has supported connections in regions including Invercargill, Taupō and Palmerston North, alongside the core Dunedin membership.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Dunedin performer chases bright lights of London
Photo: Don TownsendHot on the heels of winning the outstanding performance — lead male role award at Monday’s Dunedin Theatre Awards, well-known Dunedin actor/singer Max Beal is embarking on the long journey to London. An Iliad, performed with musician Sam Meikle during Dunedin Fringe Festival, was Beal’s first show for the year. "It stuck with me, so when I decided to try my hand at some [non musical] theatre, it had to be An Iliad," he said. Audiences across the country have also experienced his talents in the lead role of Frankie Valli in Musical Theatre Dunedin’s production of Jersey Boys, which toured New Zealand. "I have been very lucky to have had so many wonderful opportunities to perform in musical theatre shows, dating back to Into the Woods in 2017," he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Fears as social programmes slashed at Otago prison
Constructive activities for prisoners at the Otago Corrections Facility in Milton have declined since the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Allied MediaCreative and social programmes for prisoners have fallen by two-thirds following the Covid-19 pandemic, sparking concerns for prisoners’ wellbeing and rehabilitation. Documents released under the Official Information Act (OIA) show of about 20 constructive activities offered at the Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) near Milton over the past decade, only six remain active. Opportunities for Otago prisoners to engage in constructive activities such as knitting and drama have dropped sharply in the wake of the outbreak and the withdrawal of external providers. These included offence-focused programmes, educational opportunities, vocational and employment training, health services, mental health and addiction programmes, cultural support services, motivational programmes and intensive residential programmes.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Second stage resurfaces
Photo: ODT filesThe second of three may be back on the table. Mountain Scene can reveal the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust and New Ground Capital (NGC) are re-exploring Toru Central, the second of three planned Toru apartment buildings below the Remarkables Park shopping centre. Housing trust boss Julie Scott says they’re working with NGC on opportunities to construct the second, smaller apartment building, which would hopefully comprise another 80 units. In an ‘‘ideal world’’, NGC would retain theirs under a build-to-rent programme, while the housing trust’s would go into a variety of housing programmes. The last six households of the second stage will move in there at the end of this month, with stage three households expected to follow soon after.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Bee-hold this Te Atamira exhibition
It's what you could call a bee-autiful exhibition. Remarkables Park’s Te Atamira this week opened its newest exhibition, ‘Let the Honey Soak Through’, a collaboration between Otago-born artists Taarn Scott and Hana Pere Aoaki (Ngāti Hinerangi, Ngāti Mahuta, Tainui/Waikato, Ngāti Waewae, Tauranga), designed to champion our native bees. Inspired by bee networks and their relationship with the environment, the exhibition examines the patterns bees create to sustain their lives, replicated by human systems, hiveware, keepers and agricultural formations. Much of the work within the exhibition utilises blue tones — the colour which most attracts honeybees — including Te Atamira’s gallery space. ‘Let the Honey Soak Through’ runs till April 27.tracey.roxburgh@scene.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
Kindness from the ground up
In the Sacred Heart School community garden are (from left) Hawkdun Patterson, 10, principal Catherine Colvin, teacher aide Lil Hyde, Emerson Patterson, 9, Karis Hoogeveen, 8, Pippa McCall and Henry Bulling, both 9. PHOTO: NINA TAPUWhen tamariki at a Southland primary school tend to their community garden, they do more than learn about how to grow food. Sacred Heart School principal Catherine Colvin said teaching the children how to garden not only gave them practical skills but it also taught them the importance of helping others and how to show kindness. The school’s community garden has been running since 2021 and produce grown by the pupils is donated to groups including St Vincent de Paul. Gardening was the school’s way of showing the students their actions were ‘‘a practical way to live [out] their faith’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:26 UTC
Fest brings the best machines
Racing action at last year’s Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest. This year’s SpeedFest is part of the Formula Junior Platinum Jubilee World Tour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Formula Junior. The formula was a stepping stone to Formula 1 in the period from 1958 to 1963 and were driven by many of the world’s best drivers at that time. A fantastic field of more than twenty cars has been entered with entries from the UK, Italy, Australia and Great Britain. Other classes include vintage racing cars, Mini 7 South and Mazda MX5s, plus the Noel McIntyre Drainage club saloons.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:06 UTC
Partnership to boost junior football in South
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA drive for growth has sparked an exciting new partnership which will support junior football in Southland for the next three years. Invercargill Motors is the official sponsor of Southland Football’s junior grades, supporting everything from equipment to coaching programmes and junior referees. Invercargill Motors co-owner Regan Lock said the partnership aligned both Southland Football and Invercargill Motors’ drive for growth, but ultimately it was about giving back to the community. “Southland Football is looking to grow and, as a new business, so are we, so there was a good synergy. ‘‘We will see them on site during the year on Saturday mornings as they are keen to get “on the grass” with the Southland Football community.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:06 UTC
Penguin sightings prompt renewed dog control calls
A snares crested penguin looks for a safe resting place among the rocks near Beach Rd, Oamaru. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDTwo recent penguin finds have sparked renewed calls for dogs to be kept on leashes on Oamaru beaches. Oamaru Penguins staff collected a little penguin over the long weekend that had been ‘‘bitten by a dog’’, Dr Agnew said. The euthanised little penguin was about 1 year old and had fledged from the Oamaru Penguins colony, she said. Staff had also recently collected a snares crested penguin from Beach Rd.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:02 UTC
New lizard species discovered
New Zealand has 147 living native gecko and skink species (lizards) — all of which are found only in New Zealand — and new species are still being discovered. Department of Conservation (Doc) senior science adviser James Reardon said 29 new lizard species had been assessed for the first time. ‘‘New genomic studies by Otago University (looking at complete lizard DNA) have led to previously recognised species being split into new species, overturning our understanding of some lizards. ‘‘Of 147 lizard species, 59 (40%) are classed as Threatened, 68 (46%) At Risk and 16 (11%) Data Deficient or too poorly known to assess. ‘‘The discovery of lizard species is showing no signs of slowing down and people can contribute to new findings when they’re out naturing.’’
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:02 UTC