Venetian gondoliers needed for southern lakes

South Otago physician Peter Snow wants to bring a touch of Venice to the Southern Lakes.

Snow, who comes from Tapanui and owns a holiday home at Lake Hayes, has applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to operate Viennese gondolas on lakes Wakatipu and Hayes.

He would buy the gondolas in Italy for $70,000 each.

The council does not usually permit commercial activity on Lake Hayes, though it allows guided fishing tours and has given approval for the 2003 World Triathlon.