Folks, here's the video if anyone wants to see it

It's from the Press article where they note:

Former Clutha mayor Bryan Cadogan has defended his political comments as his own personal views after a video interview with The Press was widely viewed.

In the video, which has been watched nearly 200,000 times on Instagram and TikTok and shared widely, Cadogan explains why he switched allegiances after being a National voter for years.

“There’s going to be a day of reckoning coming. For many years, I voted National ... They're not the party that I used to vote for,” he said.

One of the most memorable quotes is where he says young people sometimes just need a hand up to get their life back on track but National is choosing to give them a fist down, which he says shows how out of touch the party is with ordinary Kiwis

We're spending Christmas Day in QT and don't want to cook a dinner. Are there bars/restaurants that do Christmas dinners and would also be good fun?

Hi all! Posting this in multiple subreddits to try and cast a wide net. My husband and I had planned a big New Zealand trip this November, with a bunch of fun things lined up across the South Island that we were really excited about.

Unfortunately, our dog recently got sick and started having seizures, so we’ve made the tough decision to cancel the trip and stay home with her.

We have a prepaid booking at Hotel St Moritz Queenstown that’s non-refundable, but they are allowing us to transfer it to another person.

It is for 3 nights- November 24-27 that we paid about $1700 NZD total for.

We’re hoping to find someone who might be interested in taking over the reservation. We’re not expecting to get back the full amount and would be very willing to give it away at a significant discount. At this point, we’d be happy just to recover some amount that can go towards vet bills.

If anyone happens to be around Queenstown around those dates and is interested in a mini getaway, please send me a message! Happy to share more booking details over DM or hop onto a call to figure out something that works for both of us.

Lawyer rates more expensive here than say Invers Dunedin or Christchurch?

Any law firm recommendations or ones to avoid here?

Hi folks, I'm making a post on behalf of my mum who lives in QT who is hoping someone might take a few boxes of books off her hands. No charge, pick up only (Quail Rise).

She has around 100 books to give away, including approx:

~20 Lee Child (Jack Reacher series)

~10 J. D. Robb

~10 Simon Scarrow (series about Rome / Legionnaires, etc)

Other assorted titles, some classics. Many have been bought new and read only once, others she picked up second hand and are a bit worn.

She has tried donating to places like the Red Cross, etc, but most places are only interested in taking five or ten books, not several boxes worth. She is looking for someone to take the whole lot off her hands at once, if at all possible!

Anyone interested? Could make a cool Christmas present for a reader in your life, or someone looking for printed text for craft supplies?

EDIT: Thank you for the help lovely people, our books have found a new home!

I have a basic idea of things to do in the QT/Wanaka region, but I wanted to see if anyone had any unique or fun suggestions for a hen do in the Spring - mostly around Wanaka but starting in QT. Not a big party group - think more outdoorsy, foodie, crafty.

Queenstowning on fb - there’s a whiff of a careful Newport about it…

Hey Queenstowners,
I’m having a bit of a situation and am looking for recommendations for a savvy, tenacious property lawyer who isn’t afraid of a fight.
Ideally, someone strategic, and willing to stand their ground when things get difficult. I’m starting to get the feeling that Queenstown can be a bit of an old boys’ club, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has had a genuinely good experience with a lawyer who knows their stuff and isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers when necessary!
Feel free to PM me if you’d rather recommend someone privately. All suggestions appreciated! 🙏

Any Queenstown businesses that need websites or apps?

I'm really enjoying the 2nd TV series of this - acting, plot, etc all ok, nothing too much to lavish high praise on as the real star of the show is the scenery. The Director obviously knows this as there's a LOT of scenic shots of the area as characters drive from place to place. But that breaks it for me, knowing the area. On one hand, love the shots & it's fun playing "where is this bit". But on the other hand when they're driving from Police Station (Remarks Park old H&Js store) to a private home in the hills or Chard Farm, and you get shots of driving up the Remarks skifield road, then driving down that same road, then on Crown Terrace, all within the same framing 'travelling' shot my disbelief does not remain suspended! /minor-rant

My work is travelling to Queenstown for a function on the 5th of November, and while we are all together, we would like to get some new headshots for our website. Budget is around $400 - $500 for a maximum of 8 headshots.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Would be great to use someone local while we are there.

Not a hair dye specialist but hair cut.

Last night in Arrowtown watching ancient men fight about the same old things. Predictable headlines and no new news at all. Newport with his emotional support press desk. Actual media happy to work the room.
Credit to SGI and a no show from the developers. Though Santana weren’t afraid to be there to listen and learn. Great brief from Hannah Pettit. TOP won the celebrity vote, people choice awards. What is Arrowtown thinking?

The Mayor mumbled that he has no influence and can’t control anything, word on the street today was people already knew that, and 🙄 council are doing enough, being blamed for doing nothing. Kudos to the moderator who handled circular arguments everyone wondering how long ten more minutes really would be.

Political point scoring and posturing everyone pointed the finger at everyone else. No new news at all.

Mooney tried unsuccessfully to point out that the recently signed regional deal across government agencies NZTA, Health and Education - the only one in the whole Sth island demonstrates the guv is listening and responding. The crowd weren’t kind, old mate off the farm got bullish surprising in a blue crowd. Credit to Mooney he owned that it’s been long time underfunded infrastructure that’s landed the region in the crap. Fast track he claims sets a very high bar. If theres not the infrastructure or it doesn’t meet the environmental Stds it won’t float.. but he also doesn’t get to be decision maker it’s only the fast track panels that hold the power.

Can’t argue with how much good the government is tossing Queenstown’s way. Money for hospitals schools gondolas roads bridges. Policies that have made this the current rockstar economy of the south. Low unemployment huge contributions to GDP and great views. But people weren’t there to hear that. They have a nice home here and want to pull up the ladder behind them

Looking to get over to Pigeon Island Hut this weekend.

Mate who I was borrowing from has fallen through. Anyone else able to help?

Happy to chuck some $$$ or a box of beers. Let me know!

Hey everyone! I’m 28M, recently moved to New Zealand from the UK for work.

I’m planning to explore the South Island, especially Queenstown, Milford Sound, and all the must-do tourist activities. I’m also considering doing the Milford Track with Ultimate Hikes since the other options are fully booked.

Would love to meet some like-minded people who are planning something similar! Happy to join an existing group or plan a trip together. Pretty flexible and open to ideas.
Feel free to comment or DM me if you’re keen! 😊

What’s some fun Christmas party ideas to do around QT ? 🎄🎅🏼

Hi everyone,
I got a Full Marathon entry to pass on!
Due to schedule clash, I cannot join.
If you are interested, please let me know.

Kia ora and welcome, whether you're here for a week or you've been here since the town had one supermarket.

This is the thread for visitor questions. Itineraries, day trips, where to eat, which lake activities are actually worth the money, whether you need chains in July, what to do when it rains for three days straight. Ask away. No question is too basic and nobody here is going to sneer at you for it.

Why we ask you to use this thread: r/Queenstown is a small subreddit for a small town. When a dozen separate "3 days in Queenstown, what should I do?" posts land in a week, the front page becomes entirely holiday planning and the local stuff (roadworks, rentals, council nonsense, lost dogs, the state of the traffic) gets buried. That's not great for the people who live here, and it's honestly not great for you either, since a scattered post gets three replies while this thread gets the locals who actually know things.

So: enthusiasm very much welcome, just pointed in one direction. Consolidating it here means you get better answers and the locals stay calm enough to keep giving them.

Before you post, a quick nudge:

• Have a scroll of the previous weekly threads, most questions have been asked before and the answers are good
• Tell us your dates, budget and how much you like walking uphill, it makes the answers ten times more useful

Locals: be generous in here. These people are the reason we have that many restaurants for a town this size.

Posts asking general visitor questions outside this thread may be removed and redirected here. Nothing personal, we just like being able to find things.

I'm part of a family group heading to Queenstown for a wedding in early March next year.

About 15 of us , who are total amateurs are wanting to fly fish. I can only find group tours starting at $350 each person for a few hours on a boat.

We really want to stand in a running estuary in lake Wakatipu somewhere close to QTown and try our luck.

Are there any alternatives to expensive boat rides?

Are there any places to hire rods and maybe a guide for half a day?

I will be spending 24/25/26 December at Franz Josef, I have some activities booked in for the 26th of December but was wondering if any restaurant will be open on 24/12 and 25/12 night to have a warm and nice Christmas meal, any suggestions?