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From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Queenstown’s only indoor public swimming pool will close on weekends, indefinitely, with the council blaming a lifeguard shortage.
And the news for families in the area gets worse: Arrowtown’s outdoor pool will close about a month early – on February 13 … View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Queenstown’s only indoor public swimming pool will close on weekends, indefinitely, with the council blaming a lifeguard shortage.
And the news for families in the area gets worse: Arrowtown’s outdoor pool will close about a month early – on February 13 – for the same reason.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council-owned pools are the latest businesses to be hit by a widespread staff shortage, exacerbated in Queenstown by an extensive housing shortage.
Council sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick said the decision to close Alpine Aqualand in Frankton, Queenstown on weekends from February 18 was unavoidable due to a lack of staff.
The council chose to close on weekends to avoid disrupting swimming and fitness programmes.
Battrick said the district’s pools always struggled to find staff in February when high school and university students returned to their studies.
However, a global shortage of lifeguards and Queenstown’s local staff shortage meant the situation was worse this year.
Alpine Aqualand was down to nine staff and needed another 10 (full-time and part-time) to fill rosters.
A minimum of three full-time and one part-time lifeguards were needed to open on weekends.
The Queenstown Lakes district was not the only area suffering a shortage of lifeguards. In the Timaru District several pools have also been forced to reduce their operating hours in the last week.
Battrick said anyone who could swim 200 metres in under six minutes could apply to be a lifeguard.
Staff underwent two weeks training and two weeks supervision before being independent lifeguards.
The starting pay rate was $23.65 an hour and tops out at about $26.
As of the first of April the pool would be able to sponsor migrant workers but needed to pay a minimum $29.66 an hour, which was too high, he said.
“The reality is that this is an entry level job. “We have to live within our means.”
The hourly rate in the Queenstown Lakes was higher than at many other pools around New Zealand, as it recognised the higher cost of living in the district.
The council had advertised the roles extensively and had some bites, he said.
“It’s just really hard at the moment.
“Someone can give us a call, and we can take them through the process, give them a contract, and then next day they say they’re taking a job at the supermarket.”
There would be some exceptions to the use of the pool on the weekend including the locals swimming club, which was coached by a qualified lifeguard and swimming lessons.
The weekend closures would hit families and children who visit and play at the pool,
The situation would continue until more staff were available.
Mayor Glyn Lewers said the staff shortage issue was being felt right across council and there was no magic solution.
He was concerned about the impact of the closure of the pool on local families on weekends when the weather was not good for swimming in local waterways.
The pools provided a low cost recreational activity and social connection.
Now there was a barrier to providing that.
“We went through this with Covid. We don’t want to go through it again,” he said.
This was the first time in six years the pool had been closed, except during Covid-19.
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Many schools allow female students to wear earrings but male students aren't allowed to have an ear stud. Is it time to get rid of gender-based rules in regards to jewellery?
Share your thoughts below - write NFP if you don't wish your comments to be shared in the community … View moreMany schools allow female students to wear earrings but male students aren't allowed to have an ear stud. Is it time to get rid of gender-based rules in regards to jewellery?
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A full life for Helen is one that is surrounded by family. When she first moved to the village, Helen’s husband John was being cared for elsewhere. Now that he is living at the same village, it brings Helen and … View moreLive independently while your loved one is cared for in the same Ryman village.
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Each Friday morning, editor Nick Barnett serves up your finest photos of your domestic friends. You’ll also receive exclusive content with pet-related stories and photos, as well as updates on the life of Riley, … View moreGet New Zealand’s cutest pets delivered to your inbox with Furry Friday.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will resign as prime minister before February 7.
With this year's general election scheduled for Saturday, October 14, discussions surrounding the new leader of the Labour Party are in progress.
Share your thoughts below (include Not For … View morePrime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will resign as prime minister before February 7.
With this year's general election scheduled for Saturday, October 14, discussions surrounding the new leader of the Labour Party are in progress.
Share your thoughts below (include Not For Print if you don't wish for your comments to be published)
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From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
More than 20 residents living in nine central Queenstown apartments have been given notice to move out so their homes can be converted to short-term Airbnb rentals.
The tenants were given 90 days’ notice in December that their leases would end in March.
… View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
More than 20 residents living in nine central Queenstown apartments have been given notice to move out so their homes can be converted to short-term Airbnb rentals.
The tenants were given 90 days’ notice in December that their leases would end in March.
“It’s s..., just horrible,” said one tenant, who had no idea where she would be able to find a home in Queenstown’s strained rental market.
A spokeswoman for property manager Tahuna Management Ltd said the apartments were built specifically to be leased as visitor accommodation in about 2018.
When New Zealand’s borders were closed due to Covid-19 in 2020, the owners decided to lease them as long-term rentals.
The return of international visitors and rising interest rates were behind the decision to return to Airbnb.
The apartments had resource consent for 365-day visitor accommodation and the owners had a commercial rate – abut 50% higher than standard rates, she said.
“Now the tourism is back and the town is busy it’s only natural that they’ve reverted back to Airbnb.”
Many other Queenstown apartment and house owners were making similar moves, she said.
Despite reports of up to 40 tenants being affected, she said the correct number was 20-something.
That was cold comfort to the tenants who are looking for new homes in a tight property market where dozens of people are vying for leases.
Two, who work in tourism and hospitality, said they would consider returning to their home in Melbourne if they cannot find somewhere to live.
“We’ve been applying for apartments and rooms, but every room has about 300 messages on Facebook,” one of the tenants said.
They saw one room “the size of a closet” for $450, couple rooms were going for $380, and hostels were charging $350 for a week in a bunk bed.
“People are just working to pay for accommodation – it’s getting a bit ridiculous.
“I want to stay. I love the place and I don’t want to go home, but if I have nowhere to live and I’m losing $300-$400 a week on a bunk room, what’s the point in staying?”
The shortage of worker accommodation has led to many tourism and hospitality businesses closing at key times because they do not have enough staff to open full time.
Two Wellington tenants will return to their home city. One said she was thinking of returning home anyway, but the lease cancellation cemented her decision.
“Everything is overpriced in Queenstown, not just accommodation,” she said.
A couple from Christchurch having been paying $600 for a small two-bedroom apartment in the block.
They were expecting either a big rent increase or a change in the lease so were not surprised to hear it was moving to Airbnb.
“It’s unfortunate, but not unexpected.”
His partner said the situation was “shit, just horrible.”
It was hard enough to find a place to live in Queenstown without such a big group all looking at the same time, she said.
However, she understood the landlord’s perspective.
“You think about how much we pay in rent, and they can probably get that a night with Airbnb.”
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From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Liana Smith hiked for three days to plunge into Otago’s remote Lake Unknown and do her part in a challenge to swim all 344 lakes in the South Island.
Smith is a hiking guide and accomplished swimmer who completed the “triple crown” of New Zealand swims … View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Liana Smith hiked for three days to plunge into Otago’s remote Lake Unknown and do her part in a challenge to swim all 344 lakes in the South Island.
Smith is a hiking guide and accomplished swimmer who completed the “triple crown” of New Zealand swims last year – swimming Lake Taupo (40.2km), Cook Strait (22km) and Foveaux Strait (28km).
She is also a member of the Queenstown-based Southern Lakes Swimming Club, which established the Lake Attack Aotearoa 2023 challenge, encouraging swimmers everywhere to help complete the goal of swimming all 344 South Island lakes before May.
“I love pushing myself, and I'm in constant pursuit to find my physical and mental limits in life,” Smith said.
The challenge gave her an excuse to take on the solo expedition to Lake Unknown, in Mt Aspiring National Park, which had been on her adventure list for a few years.
It is also the most remote and ambitious of the 50 swims logged so far on the Lake Attack website.
Others include a New Year's Day swim in chilly Lake Alta at the Remarkables ski area, undertaken by several members of the club including Paul Jaquin who swam in the 8C water without a wetsuit.
The challenge was open to everyone and people needed to swim for only 10 minutes to log the event.
The 344 South Island lakes were those identified on Topographic maps, but more were being added as people found them, Ashford-Tait said.
Swimmers were also encouraged to log useful information on water quality and biodiversity, which would be collated by club members.
The challenge opened on Christmas Day and there had already been participants from the south, Christchurch and Blenheim.
While the club would like to see every lake swum, the website does warn swimmers to be safe, not swim if the water quality is not suitable, and avoid spreading lake nasties such as didymo.
Queenstown teenager Jacob Marriott is leading the statistics on the group’s website so far with the most swims completed (23), the longest time swimming (370 minutes) and the furthest distance swum (11.3km).
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