 Credit ODT A recent delegation to Aspen has highlighted a growing emphasis by community and business leaders to learn what we can from other resort towns that have experienced or are still experiencing growing pains on their journey to maturity.
We live in an amazing part of the world. Queenstown's natural capital has been augmented over time by innovative and inspirational people, who had the courage and creativity to challenge the accepted norms.  Credit: ODT
As we tuck away yet another festive season and return to the daily grind I will look back fondly on my holiday after enjoying some great grassroots Kiwi summer fun.
While the farmers won't share my sentiment, having the big yellow on show non-stop was fantastic for getting outside and there was plenty of 4WD-ing, hunting, boating and camping crammed in.
 Credit: ODT
On Friday I spoke in support of my less than glowing submission on the QLDC’s draft transport strategy.
I felt it lacked a vision for Queenstown, was not comprehensive enough and was more wishful thinking than reality. To sum it up for those who haven’t read it. A well intentioned QLDC meritoriously wants to take 20% of our vehicle movements and redistribute them to walking, biking and bussing by changing the rules around car parking. This will avoid the need to spend any money on roading infrastructure to after 2030 maybe even 2040.
  When you have fallen off the wagon climbing back on can be daunting particularly when it comes to health and fitness. We have all been there, looking up from the bottom of a deep hole desperate to climb out.
Many succumb to the latest fitness craze throwing themselves obsessively into a cataclysmic lifestyle change. Inevitably some don’t make it through the first few weeks. Other’s trawl the internet for quick fixes and miracle cures throwing money away like tipping notes at Calendar Girls. Whatever you do it needs to be compatible with your lifestyle and sustainable in the long term. It can be as simple as moving a little more and consuming a little less for sustained period of time.
In recent days there has been a mind blowing revelation unveiled to the blissfully unaware citizens of New Zealand.....
Apparently our government spies on people, other governments and we may even monitor some of our own citizens communications! WOW, Shock and Awe! This is bigger than Texas maybe even larger than Kim Dot Coms ego, this is a moment of truth on a grand scale akin to the time I found out there was sugar in Coke and KFC's Double Down burger wasn't going to be blessed with the Heart Foundation tick.  I'd like to think like most Kiwi's I'm pretty green at heart. I hunt, fish, love the great outdoors and hope our natural landscape and all the elements I enjoy will be around for the next generation.
We have been lucky to grow up in a country with such abundant recreational amenities provided by our natural landscape but also in a country which for the most part has provided us with first world health, education and standards of living. We have also grown up in a country with environmental choices due to our economic success. The trade off between leaving New Zealand as it was millennia ago and developing it for human habitation has resulted in a great wee country whose population of 4.5 millions Kiwi's punch well above their weight globally. In Politics as with life It's easy to make promises but a hell of a lot harder to keep them.  Nationally the lolly scramble is in full flight and insults are being tossed around freely. Locally the politicians are out in force and the hoardings are up, complete with plenty of childishly scribbled satirical humour.
That’s right, in case you have been living under a rock somewhere and not noticed, its election time!
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AuthorMark Wilson 
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