Holiday alert: Please note that kerbside collections between 25-27 December and 1-3 January will be pushed out a day (even recyclers need a holiday). For more on Rubbish & Recycling in our district, see our dedicated webpage.

Council offices will close at midday Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen 8.00am Monday 5 January 2026. For urgent issues, call us on 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka). For non-urgent issues, please us the Snap Send Solve App. We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tuia Programme 2025

Applications for the Tuia Programme 2025 are now open.

What is Tuia?

Tuia is an intentional, long-term, intergenerational approach to develop and enhance the way in which rangatahi Māori contribute to communities throughout New Zealand.

Hear from 2024's rangatahi, Imogen Smith:


We look to build a network, learn local history for rangatahi to help support them in their contribution to their communities. This is done through mentoring with Mayor Glyn Lewers and developing relationships between a diverse range of rangatahi throughout the country that recognises, accepts and celebrates diversity.

Three pou make up the Tuia rangatahi experience:

  • Mentoring

  • Community contribution

  • Wānanga

You can find out more about the programme by reading the prospectus: Tuia 2025 Prospectus (PDF, 11.1MB)


Application process

To apply, please email topaz.river@qldc.govt.nz with a short letter or video about yourself explaining why you should be selected for the Tuia.

We're looking for rangatahi Māori (aged 18 to 25 years) who reside within the Queenstown Lakes District and, at some level, are actively contributing to the wellbeing of their community, or have an aspiration to do so.

Applications close in early 2025.


Past rangatahi

We have had the pleasure of working with previous rangatahi through the Tuia programme.

Read more about their experiences below: