Winter fest to be kept short

Queenstown Winter Festival is to be kept in a shortened format but its director is moving on.

Lisa Buckingham has been the director for six years and said it was the right time for her to go.

She led the move to change the festival this year from 10 to four days and the new concept worked well, she said.

‘‘I feel like it’s a good time to sign off.

‘‘The shortened festival is in good shape and gives an opportunity for someone else to take over.’’

Buckingham said she had ‘‘mixed emotions’’ about leaving.

‘‘Being given the privilege to manage the event that means so much to so many people is something really special,’’ she said.

This year’s Winter Festival wrapped up last week with the dates already locked in for next year’s winter celebration.

The festival would be centred on the weekend of June 23 and 24.

Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd said he was pleased with this shortened programme.

‘‘All the events went very well and it’s been great to see the local community getting behind the revamped programme too.’’

Buckingham said the ‘‘festival hub’’ with a stage, food joints and a bar at the Earnslaw Park was one of her favourites.

‘‘Having that operating, the bands playing from midday until year’s 9pm and having a constant presence was a positive take out,’’ she said.

New events such as the Community Night Walking Parade on Sunday had a small but enthusiastic turn out, which Buckingham hoped would grow.

‘‘With new events, such as the Community Night Walking Parade, sponsors, locals, businesses and community groups can see how the new format works and where the opportunities are for them to participate or to get involved and profile their businesses or causes.’’ Buckingham said.

Feedback on the festival and a survey would start in the next few weeks.

Police involved in van crash

A van that crashed in icy conditions on Wednesday was carrying several police officers headed to Dunedin for a first aid course. A police communications spokeswoman said the officers were travelling to a mandatory first aid training course in Dunedin when the vehicle appears to have struck ice and crashed.The crash occurred about halfway between Mataura and Clinton on Old Coach Rd just after 7.30am. The van had rolled onto its side and was blocking the road. Further investigations are continuing into the cause of the crash, the spokeswoman said. The officers involved received a range of minor injuries and have since received medical treatment, the spokeswoman said.

Care workers to get pay rise

About 1920 Southern care and support workers are due for a pay rise starting from next week. The increase comes as a result of a $2 billion nationwide settlement (The Care and Support Worker Settlement Bill). Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said from July 1, 55,000 eligible workers throughout the country will see wages increase to between $19 to $27 an hour over five years. ‘‘The pay increase will make a huge difference for around 1920 workers in the southern region. For those currently on the minimum wage of $15.75 an hour, it means from July 1, they will move to at least $19 per hour, a 21 per cent pay rise. For a fulltime worker, this means they will be taking home around $100 extra a week, or more than $5000 a year.’’

Woman charged

A woman who allegedly held-up a Dunedin jewellers, an antique store and a dairy has been charged with aggravated robbery. The 40-year-old is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court on three aggravated robbery charges today. The woman is alleged to have robbed McAuliffe Jewellers on King Edward St on June 6 at 5.40pm, and the Elgin Food Market and Sue Todd Antiques on the afternoon of June 23.

Boy recovering

An injured child is in a stable condition after falling 20 metres down a cliff near Wanaka. Southern District Health Board senior communications adviser Moira Finn said the boy was ‘‘progressing favourably’’ after the fall from the Rob Roy Glacier walking track on Wednesday. The family asked to extend their thanks to the rescue crew and all the health team involved, she said. A police media spokeswoman said the boy fell ‘‘about 15 minutes’ walk in from the footbridge on the Rob Roy track’’. The Rob Roy Glacier Track begins near Raspberry Creek car park, about 54 kilometres from Wanaka, and is in the Mt Aspiring National Park. The boy was tramping with family members.

Cars crash

Three cars crashed on the Mataura river bridge at Wyndham yesterday morning. A fire communications spokesman said firefighters were called to the crash just before 7am. The occupants involved in the crash were left with only minor injuries and nobody was trapped, the spokesman said. The Southland District Council organised a grit truck to grit the road, the spokesman said. In a separate incident that occurred on Wednesday night, a vehicle crashed into a cow near Invercargill. A police spokeswoman said the crash happened just before 11pm on the Gorge Road - Invercargill Highway between Long Bush South Rd and Rimu South Rd. The vehicle was not badly damaged.