The Lightfoot Initiative

18/05/2026

Got Graphic Design skills and some free time? Our amazing designer Nicky is taking a short break and we seriously need some paid, creative support. If you're interested, then drop us a line at [email protected]
Note: we're so creatively challenged that we don't even have a flashy graphic to go with this post :-(

10/05/2026

Sometimes, you really can build the bridge.

This one is for the cage-rattlers, email-writers, photo-takers, video-makers, engineers, architects, councillors, MPs, transport planners, community groups, businesses, residents and everyday locals who looked at the SH6 crossing and said, “Nah. We can do better than this.”

Because we could. And now we are.

The confirmation that Puahuru Bridge across SH6 is going ahead is a huge moment for Queenstown, and a massive win for shared and active travel.

Soon after Lightfoot formed, Mark Williams, W***y, from Queenstown Trails came to us with a very clear problem: people needed a safe way to cross State Highway 6.

Queenstown Trails had the vision for an active travel link that would properly connect with the Wakatipu Active Travel Network Route A2. Lightfoot agreed, backed the idea, and got stuck in.

At the time, the “safe” option was an island refuge near Hardware Lane, with a proposed cycle and pedestrian underpass at the SH6/Hawthorne roundabout. There were a few problems with that.

So we started the kōrero.

We talked to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. We read everything publicly available, plus a few things that were not exactly easy to find. We spoke with, and yes, probably badgered, the Mayor and Councillors at Queenstown Lakes District Council.

We took photos and made some quite frankly terrifying videos showing what it was like to cross SH6 by bike or on foot.

Then the community got moving.

Around 30 organisations, businesses and community groups joined an email campaign to Waka Kotahi, the QLDC Mayor and Councillors, and former QLDC infrastructure boss Pete Hansby.

People spoke up. People backed a better solution.

A big early moment came when Jim Boult CNZM and Pete Hansby recognised the need for a bridge.

Then, with generous support from Tony Galavazi at Holmes Aus & NZ, Matthew Barnett, and Wyatt and Gray Architects, Lightfoot helped develop an early vision and budget to show what was possible.

You can still see that early vision here:
https://lightfoot.org.nz/jims-way-bridge-sh6-queenstown-trail/

Before long, most people agreed that a bridge was simply the smartest solution.

Over the past four years, Queenstown Trails Trust, with Lightfoot beside them, has kept pushing and making the case. Local MP Joseph Mooney’s support has also been crucial in helping turn a very good community idea into actual infrastructure.

And now it is happening.

Kudos to Queenstown Trails Trust for rattling cages and staying the course. We are proud Lightfoot could help carry the kaupapa forward.

But mostly, kudos to this community. This outcome is what happens when people get organised, get loud, and keep going.

Puahuru Bridge is a win for all of us.

A proposed bridge provides an iconic gateway to Queenstown that declares “we’re actively addressing our congestion and emissions problems”

24/04/2026

As Term 2 kicks off, more of our local students are using the public Orbus network. It’s a big step, and sometimes things don’t go to plan.

Have you ever seen a student looking worriedly at their phone or peering out the window like they’re a bit lost? The Whakatipu Basin can look very different if you’re on the wrong bus or have missed your stop.

If a kid looks distressed, don’t be afraid to check in. A simple, "Hey, you doing okay? Need help finding your stop?" can make all the difference. 🧡

22/04/2026

Orbus Queenstown Queenstown Lakes District Council Queenstown Primary School

22/04/2026

Helping a child navigate their commute doesn't just get them home safe - it builds their confidence to use public transport for life. Let’s make Queenstown the best place to be a young commuter!

We’ve all heard that dreaded "Insufficient Funds" beep. For an adult, it’s a minor annoyance. For a 10-year-old who’s lost their Bee Card or run out of credit, it’s a full-blown crisis.

What you can do to help:
💳 Speak Up: If you see a driver refusing entry to a child, politely advocate for them. No child should be left at a stop alone.
💳 The "Pay it Forward": If your card has the credit, offer to tap them in.
💳 Stay Calm: If the child is panicked, reassure them. Help them resolve it safely.

20/04/2026

Orbus Queenstown Queenstown Lakes District Council

19/04/2026

If your child is catching the public bus for the first time this term, here are some top tips from Orbus to get them "bus ready" and riding with confidence! 🚌✨

Learn everything on how to catch a bus from the Orbus public transport network in Dunedin and Queenstown, such as getting a Bee Card, planning your bus journey and more.

19/04/2026

Queenstown is growing, and so is our community of young bus users! 🚌 This term, thousands of local kids will be hopping on the bus - some for the very first time.

With recent changes to the school bus system, more students are now relying on our public Orbus network to get to and from school. It takes more than a driver and a bus to keep our community moving.

As Term 2 kicks off, the Lightfoot Initiative is calling on adults to be more than just passengers. Whether it's a student on the wrong route or a tech issue with a Bee Card, we can all play a part in getting them home safely.

Keep an eye out for the kids today. A little kindness goes a long way. 🧡

19/04/2026