South Island scenic spots get priority from tourism infrastructure fund

Friday, 16 July 2021

Lake Pukaki, one of many tourism areas with few ratepayer which will get a facilities upgrade.

Five South Island regions have been given priority in an $18 million handout to upgrade tourism facilities around the country.

Fifty-seven projects will receive support from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, the Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said on Friday.

The more detailed announcement was foreshadowed in April when it was announced the fund’s latest round would pay special attention to Fiordland, South Westland, Queenstown Lakes, Mackenzie District, and Kaikōura – areas with small ratepayer bases and hard-hit by the absence of international visitors.

The regions will collectively receive $10m to enhance lake and beachfront facilities such as toilets and carparks.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash announces more financial assistance to help businesses survive until the borders open.

* More than half a million Kiwis booked flights for school holidays

* Hard-hit tourism hotspots prioritised for $13m tourism infrastructure fund

The Kaikōura Marina Redevelopment Programme is redeveloping Wakatu Quay, between the esplanade and the seal colony, to become a commercial, retail and hospitality hub.

Nash said the five areas were still doing it tough even though domestic tourism was booming.

“Government funding for these projects will provide much-needed local employment while borders are tightly controlled to keep us safe from Covid-19,” he said.

Some of the money will go towards upgrading public lakefront assets at Queenstown, Glenorchy, and Wanaka, aiding boaties, pedestrians, cyclists and tourism operators.

Hokitika’s well known beach sign. The township is about to get a beachfront makeover.

Te Anau and Manapouri in Fiordland will also get some lakefront improvements, such as better boat ramps and access roads, and further funding for the Te Anau wastewater project.

The Mackenzie district will also receive funding for car park and toilet facilities at lakes Pukaki and Ruataniwha, and camping facilities at Fairlie.

Southland District Council has also won support for tourism projects on Stewart Island/Rakiura, and Westland will get a new boat trailer area and visitor park at remote Jackson Bay.

The visitor carpark next to the Franz Josef heliport will also be upgraded, while in Kaikōura, the lookout carpark will be sealed and a pathway will be improved along the foreshore.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Chris Roberts said the tourism industry was still “a long way from recovery” but dozens of communities would be delighted with the upgrades.

“These improved amenities will serve locals, domestic visitors and when borders do reopen, international visitors.”

Nash said the new facilities would also be welcomed by local councils.

“In the past few months I have travelled to all five of these regions and spoken to mayors and other leaders about what is needed to help the communities adjust.

“This tourism fund is just one of a number of initiatives designed to keep up the momentum of recovery, and we remain focussed on supporting local jobs and businesses in future decisions.”

The rest of the funding will be spent around the country, from wifi-connected bins along the Pahia and Russell waterfronts to a new cycle hub in Alexandra, and the development of Hokitika's beachfront.

Speaking in Queenstown on Friday, Nash said he would like to see the projects start as soon as possible.

When council's applied to MBIE, the projects had to be well worked through.

'As soon as they can get those shovels in the ground, the money will go out the door, people will be employed, and we start building on the infrastructure resilience we need,” Nash said.

When asked how many jobs it meant, Nash said he could not say the actual numbers but pointed out the funding covered 57 projects, which required varying skills and competencies.

When asked if toilets and car parks were the best use of money right now, Nash said there were a lot of tourists at the moment and 'in the past we would argue that we really haven't concentrated on domestic tourism'.

Even before the borders closed, domestic tourism accounted for 60 per cent of tourism.

Also, the Kaikōura project was a walkway and there were boat ramp projects as well, Nash said.

The Wānaka Tree carpark is getting $432,000.

Nash was asked if it was really Kiwis stopping to take a photo at the Wānaka Tree. He said without the infrastructure set up, people would go to places 'we don't want them to, and they'll park and do things that we don't want them to do.'

'Car parks and toilets don't sound that sexy I'll be honest with you, but they're a really important part of tourism infrastructure that we need to get in place, not just for Kiwis, but when the borders do open.'