MARK WILSON
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Queenstown needs to be Queenstown, not Aspen

25/5/2016

 
PictureCredit 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.
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Mountain Scene: We had a vision, we can have it again

20/3/2016

 
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​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.





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Mountain Scene: Kiwi fun not yet ruined by rule book

23/1/2016

 
PictureCredit: 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.
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Mountain Scene - Official Launch: My Taylor made tours

4/12/2015

 
Taylor Swift
​Oh the excitement last week as the one and only Taylor Swift breezed swiftly and covertly through town.
 
Queenstown is often lauded as an idyllic playground for the rich and famous. A favourite get away for assorted sports stars, celebrities and wannabe celebrities, along with plenty of well do foreign and domestic visitors. 
 
This popularity has been a real boom for the high-end luxury tourism market.
 
We have erected luxury lodges and high end nail salons, while regularly run out of parks for private jets. However is that really a unique offering for pampered celebs who travel in the lap of luxury as nonchalantly as old lady marmalade runs up lines at Tuesday night bingo?


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Technology not shutdowns the key to combat climate change

31/10/2015

 
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It’s a ferocious argument containing extreme and often confusing views on either side.
 
Recently the Associated Press announced it was instructing journalists to use the terms “doubters” or “those who reject mainstream climate science” in their climate change stories as opposed to skeptics. It was believed using skeptics gave them too much credit given the overwhelming scientific evidence in support of climate change. 
 

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Mountain Scene - It's time to make a statement on transport

22/8/2015

 
PictureCredit: 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. 


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Weather hype's a big snow job

18/6/2015

 
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Credit: Mountain Scene
OPINION: I'll admit I've got a bit of an interesting obsession.

It manifests itself as the leaves begin to colour and the temperatures cool, becoming full blown as the army of snow guns roar into life on The Peak.

It can wane like my interest in rugby after the mighty Stags conclude their ITM Cup campaign or peskily stick around for summer like low-riding, pants-wearing snow chasers.

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Mountain Scene - Let’s use Hawaii for tax inspiration

27/4/2015

 
I've  stayed out of the bed tax debate thus far. It’s not that I don’t have an opinion or five but more that it’s such a complex issue and there are so many valid points of view. However having just visited Hawaii to enjoy a wedding in stunning Waikiki, I have been able to draw on some comparisons from another rapidly developing tourist mecca.

Hawaii, Oahu, Waikiki, beachfront

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Mountain Scene - Surviving the Matrimonial Swelter  

13/2/2015

 
Mark Wilson Queenstown
Maybe it’s a mid thirties thing but she's been a big couple of years for weddings of late, sauntering around the country helping friends and family give the bar tab a decent whack on their big day.  

Unfortunately Southerners generally fall to bits on a hot day and most weddings  are scheduled for the searing hot months of summer which brings to bare several sweaty issues such as underarm ponds, bum sweats and excessive consumption of cooling beverages.  

Compounding the heat itself is the fashion not function mentality in regards to wedding attire. For some reason that never made sense to me, whom in summer is reluctant to wear even the bare essentials most wedding's still require full formal regalia consisting at the very least of dress shoes, pants, a long sleeved shirt and often a tie (I'd rather drink from the Nile in Cairo than wear a tie).  

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Mountain Scene - No shortcuts on the road to longevity

13/12/2014

 
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Scoop, Philip Chandler, Queenstown Half Marathon
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. 


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Mountain Scene - Real Boxing a Knockout Success

25/11/2014

 
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Boxing has been on an upswing in New Zealand lately and over the weekend Queenstown  pulled off a major coup in successfully hosting the Nationals for the first time.  Boxing one of our oldest and most primal sports was on a high In the 90’s and early 2000’s  when we were lucky to have David Tua knocking people out on the world stage but things drifted from there. 

Enter corporate (charity/celebrity) boxing which thrust boxing back into the mainstream.  Brave or possibly foolish people you knew or recognised from the sports field or TV were given a few weeks training before rumbling around with each other offering what could be described a varied myriad of entertainment with belts ranging from riveting ring wars to embarrassments.

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Spying Revelations.... Really?

19/9/2014

1 Comment

 
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. 

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Conservation Costs

11/9/2014

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Milford Sound Fiordland Moody
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. 




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Political Promises 

8/9/2014

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In Politics as with life It's easy to make promises but a hell of  a lot harder to keep them.

When I was young charging around the hallowed halls of Southland Boys High School I used to promise my teacher's that I would do my homework on time. A lot like today''s voters they had to take my word for it and just like voters by the time they found out I couldn't keep up with my end of the bargain it was too late. This worked out fine for me as it was usually too late for that assignment and apart from the odd detention life invariably went on. 

This election is very similar to my old high school days with promises a plenty to solve all of New Zealand's problems being bandied around like manna from heaven in front of kiwi voters. Just like my poor teachers I fear it will be the average kiwi voter who is let down when the political homework fails to be handed in on time and the promises that snared their vote dissipate in hollow words and name calling post election. 


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Mountain Scene - Pollies ditch positivity to bring back the biff 

24/8/2014

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Mark Wilson Mountain Scene
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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Mountain Scene - An Ode to 40 years of Winter Festival 

30/6/2014

 
Mark wilson Mountain Scene Queenstown column
Happy 40th Birthday Winter Festival my old friend. It’s great to be around to help you consecrate this milestone with all of your friends, adoring fans and agglomeration of groupies, B grade celebs and other hanger’s on seeking to bask in your reflected glory.  You’re a true local icon whose antics have made you legendary around the world.  From humble beginnings you have really grown in stature over the years, maturing into something we can all be proud of a showpiece for our region and a celebration of all that this great part of New Zealand can offer. 

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Mountain Scene - I lost but found new folk and roads

10/5/2014

 
John Key with Mark Wilson in Queenstown
Sorry Queenstown you won't be getting a local MP, not for now anyway. 

My recent quest began in December without evening knowing you could join a political party. 5 Months later I’ve come to appreciate and respect the internal workings of one. I've met some real salt of the earth folk, enjoyed having an audience to listen to my ramblings and even discovered a couple of new roads, which for someone who has done 80'000 + km's around the South in the last 2.5 years is no mean feat.

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Mountain Scene - Mind the Distracted Pedestrian

10/11/2013

 
Mark Wilson Mountain Scene Queenstown
It’s finally happened, tragically and possibly for anyone familiar with the behaviour on some of our local roads, predictably, a pedestrian has been killed after being hit by a vehicle at Arthur's Point. 


The unfortunate victim a Korean man was star gazing.  He had probably never seen so much skyward action. The southern night sky is truly a sight to behold to those from big cities where air and light pollution have long since reduced the influence of the stars and galaxies to a dim glow. 

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Mountain Scene - Don't hit on our lady 

14/9/2013

 
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With comet like regularity every few years a small chorus of discontent begins to stir in Queenstown. It wafts in on the westerly breeze catching the eyes and noses of a few over stimulted types and leads to a flurry of sensationalist letters to the editors and subsequent media responses. The ensuring melee draws attention to the apparent prime culprit for tarnishing New Zealand’s clean green image and melting the world’s polar ice caps, the one and only Lady of the Lake, Queenstown’s iconic steamship the Earnslaw.

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Mountain Scene - I got the dirty ole denim blues

19/7/2013

 
Mark Wilson Queenstown Mountain Scene
Last Friday night innocently minding my own business propped up against a well maintained shoulder press machine, gathering up the muscular fortitude for another crack at throwing a few weights around, I was approached by a spritely looking young gentleman who gestured awkwardly for me to remove my headphones. 

Not really in the mood for chin-wagging as I was nipple deep in a great 80’s glam rock play list I begrudgingly removed one headphone  in the interests of politeness. 


“Sir could you please not wear denim next time you train, it’s not allowed.” 

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    Mark Wilson
    + 64 274855408
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PO Box 505 Queenstown
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