Cr Thompson - Kiwi summer is now just a local flight away

There are lots of expat Kiwis and people with family in New Zealand who live right here in Kawana.

So it has to be good news that Air New Zealand’s latest season of direct flights between Sunshine Coast Airport and Auckland Airport extends well beyond winter and across next Christmas and through the summer holidays.

That means holidays and family reunions across the "ditch" become much easier for local residents as well as the many Kiwis who use these direct flights every year.

Historically it meant travelling to Brisbane often in the early hours or peak hour, then finding an expensive park and waiting ages for a flight.

Now you can use the inexpensive park at Sunshine Coast Airport or have someone drop you off – so when you come home, you are really home!

The other great news about these flights is they connect within two hours to flights out of Auckland to Los Angeles and other North American cities.

To top all that off, Air New Zealand is offering big discounts on certain flights, so visit www.airnewzealand.com.au and see what’s on offer.

Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2015

Time is running out for Kawana artists to enter some of the 2015 Sunshine Coast Art Prize categories, offering combined prizes across all awards in excess of $125,000.

Now in its 10th year, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize will this time be held in partnership with key regional visual art organisations and awards and offers opportunities within painting, new media (including animation, videography, street art and more), photography, public art, environmental art, sculpture and more.

Online entries close 5pm on Monday, May 4.

For more details on the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2015, including the terms and conditions and to book for the launch, visit Council’s gallery website.