Late-summer edition

Kia ora

Summer is in full swing, and with it comes a fresh wave of climate, biodiversity and sustainability actions across Queenstown Lakes District! Updates in this newsletter cover active transport, sustainable events, new action plan development, amazing dark skies and takahē milestones at the head of Lake Whakatipu, and more.

Read on for the latest updates, initiatives, and ways to get involved!

Kā mihi,
QLDC Climate Action and Sustainability Team 

Queenstown Lakes’ next Climate & Biodiversity Plan

The development of the 2025–2028 Climate & Biodiversity Plan is well underway with guidance and support from our Climate Reference Group.

Engagement with key partner organisations and stakeholders has identified a broad range of opportunities that we’re reviewing and refining into a draft plan. 

Click on green button below for full story and to see the key recommendations we're working to.  

Interested in joining the QLDC Climate Reference Group? 

Passionate about climate action and biodiversity? Got expertise that could help shape our district’s future? If so, we’ll soon be open for expressions of interest in joining the Climate Reference Group. 

For an overview of the group and what we're looking for, click on green button below.

Aotearoa Bike Challenge update (spoiler: it's going real well)

The Aotearoa Bike Challenge month is in full swing, and what a fantastic start we've had.

Queenstown Lakes District Council has teamed up with Lightfoot who have been at the heart of the action, setting up pit stops across Queenstown to keep cyclists fueled and refreshed. These stops have been a hit, offering riders a chance to grab a coffee, enjoy some kai, and connect with fellow cyclists. With the summer heat in full force, the ice blocks on the ride home have been a real crowd-pleaser!

In 2024, bikers doing the challenge in our district clocked up 140,000km in just one month, saving around seven tonnes of CO2 emissions.

This year, with at least 120 local workplaces and almost 800 riders involved, we're hoping we can beat last year's numbers. As of Monday 24 February, we have collectively ridden 110,814km and saved 6,178kg CO2!

If you're not already signed up, there's still a few days to join in and help us beat last year's impressive achievement. Find out more and register via Lightfoot's website linked below.  

Working toward a low-waste future

Work is underway to draft up a new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) for the district.

Waste is everyone's responsibility. We all produce it and make decisions on where it ends up. That’s why setting a clear direction for how waste is minimised relies on working together to lead and develop innovative and achievable solutions.

Every week, we send around 920 tonnes of waste to the Victoria Flats Landfill. Most of this could be avoided all together with the right services, facilities and education.  

If you have an idea for how we can work together to build a low-waste future, head to https://letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/wmmp and post it on the online ideas board. You can also see what ideas others have shared and comment on them with your thoughts. 

And for those who’d like to dig a little deeper, there’s lots more information about the WMMP process, local waste audits, and how we’ve progressed since the last plan was adopted in 2018.   

A draft WMMP is expected to be released for public consultation later in 2025.   ♻️🌏

Waste minimisation funding coming soon

The 2025 Waste Minimisation Community Fund (WMCF) will open on Monday 14 April. The fund is there to support individuals, community groups, businesses, iwi/Māori organisations, and education providers in reducing waste and promoting resource recovery.

The fund will back initiatives that prevent waste, encourage reuse, and drive lasting change. Applications close 25 May.

To give you some inspiration, check out previous WMCF recipients' projects here.

Glenorchy shines — day and night!

Glenorchy has this month once again proven itself to be a place like no other, celebrating major wins for conservation and the environment.

In early February, the head of Lake Whakatipu was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, joining an exclusive group of the world’s best stargazing locations. This recognition showcases Glenorchy’s exceptionally clear, star-filled skies, ensuring they remain protected for future generations to enjoy.

Adding to the excitement, eighteen takahē were successfully released into the Rees Valley on 11 February, marking a huge step forward in efforts to restore their population. Once thought extinct, these rare and charismatic native birds now have a safe and thriving home in Glenorchy’s breathtaking landscapes.

So, whether you’re gazing up at the unrivalled night skies or spotting a takahē strutting through the valley, one thing’s for sure — Glenorchy is a place where nature truly thrives. 🌿✨

Congratulations to Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Skies Group and Southern Lakes Sanctuary for these epic achievements!

Images courtesy of Corrine Davis and Southern Lakes Sanctuary 

Toolkit for making events more sustainable 

From festivals to sports tournaments, events are a big part of life in Queenstown Lakes, but they can also have a big impact on our environment. That’s why QLDC, with help from a range of local partner organisations, have developed a Sustainable Events Toolkit, designed to help event organisers reduce waste, cut emissions, and make their events more eco-friendly.

The toolkit provides practical tips and resources on everything from waste minimisation to sustainable transport options, making it easier to host events that are both successful and environmentally responsible. Whether you're planning a small community gathering or a large-scale festival, this guide is a step toward a greener, low-carbon future for our district.🎉🌿

Powering the future — Queenstown Flex Challenge 

In late October 2024, Queenstown Lakes hosted the Queenstown Flex Challenge. Led by Ara Ake (New Zealand's future energy hub) in partnership with Aurora Energy, Powernet, Transpower and QLDC, the initiative discussed and showcased innovative ways to shift peak electricity use, easing grid pressure and optimising renewable energy.

Participants learned how adjusting energy consumption during peak times could improve grid stability, lower costs, and support decarbonisation efforts across the district. Given Queenstown’s unique energy challenges, the insights from this event will help shape future solutions for a more sustainable power system.

Better Building Brekkie in Wānaka

Join the team at LMA Timber on Anderson Road on 5 March at 7.30am for a breakfast and coffee session about innovative sustainable building practices.

Everyone who comes along will go into the draw for a chance to win a special LMA Timber prize. It’s BYO coffee cup, and the coffee and breakfast are included in the $5 entry. 

QLDC is proud to support this event from Wao through our Zero Waste District Programme

Better Building Banter: Building Sustainably

Join Better Building Southern Lakes on 5 March at 5.00pm for their first Banter session of the year. The event is taking place at Wānaka’s Architecture + Design Library (AD Library) and will include presentations from a panel of experts covering the importance of sustainable materials in a build.

Shana Payne of Designgroup Stapleton Elliott will cover circular economy flows and positive ways of sustainable implementations and examples. You’ll then hear from Managing Director and Founder of LMA Timber, Martin Thompson, on real life locally available examples of positive sustainable material choices in building. After that, Hamish McPhail of Salmond Architecture will finish off by comparing different build designs showing the benefit of using sustainable materials.

The presentations will be followed by open discussion, Q&A, and the opportunity to network.

Don't forget that our Banter sessions are for positive networking as well! Doors open at 5.00pm for half an hour of connecting with industry and community and another half hour at the end for everyone to come together and discuss the event with those in the room.

QLDC is proud to support this event from Wao through our Zero Waste District Programme.