Games support vital

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 375, 26 February 1991, Page 5

Games support vital

by

dennis :

beytagh

iviore man ou people auenaea a puonc meeting in the Ohakune Club last week to hear about the forthcoming New Zealand Winter Games which are to be held throughout the Ruapehu region later this year.

The meeting, called by the Ruapehu South Business Association (RSBA) wa s addressed by four guest speakers. They were: Vivienne Morris (Events co-ordi-nator, Event Tourism Wanganui); Jim Little (Marketing Manager, Taupo); Garrick Workman (Mayor, Ruapehu District Council); and Andreas Hefti (Games Director, NZ Winter Games). The first speaker, Vivienne Morris, described her involvement with Wanganui's Masters Games which were held for the first time two years ago and again

last month, said it was essential to stage special events such as the Wanganui Masters Games in order to attract visitors in an economically depressed economy. The first Masters Games had attracted 1600 competitors and many more visitors to Wanganui two years ago. This year there were 3,200 competitors and approximately 11,000 visitors. She explained that it was difficult to be precise about the visitor figures because in Wanganui, with its larger population base, visitors were not as con-

spicuous or readily recognizable as they would be in Ohakune during the ski season. Considerable contribution Nor was their contribution to Wanganui's economy as readily assessed as, with its larger population base, many competitors were able to stay with friends. Nevertheless, their contribution, either directly or indirectly, would have been considerable. The planning for this year's Masters Games had involved six people over 14 months. Taupo's marketing manager Jim Little, said that his job was a little easier as, while Wanganui was not seen as a tourist "destination' and had to stage events in order to attract visitors, Taupo did not have the same problem. He said

that Taupo and Ohakune, together with the whole Central North Island area with its mountains, lakes, rivers and skifields, were seen as tourist destinations. And while Taupo and Ohakune might be seen as competitors for the tourist dollar in some respects so were Turangi and Tokaanu, and it was better to try to persuade visitors to stay longer in the Central North Island area by providing them with a wide choice of recreational options and so stop them travelling to the South Island and other New Zealand venues. "We must keep our margins competitive, our volumes high and our overheads low. We must get more people here more often to spend more money", he said. Other centres were spending "big bikkies" on attracting visitors and he cited Dunedin's recent expenditure of $2 million on promotion. Clean image "We should claim and promote our 'clean green' image and identify the unique features of each region. Ohakune must investigate and promote its own unique features... it's a great little town, well situated...really neat", he said. He said that Taupo had only become a residential town in the 1950s but was now a major tourism centre. As an example of what tourism can do for a town he cited a recent example where, within

the space of a week, three events had attracted 5,300 visitors to Taupo. It was estimated that each visitor would have spent a minimum of $100 per day on accommodation, meals, entertainment and petrol, so local businesses would have been well pleased. He explained that Taupo District Council levied a small percentage only on businesses in the area..."residential ratepayers are not levied". These funds from businesses support the Marketing Advisory Board (through the Taupo District Council) and thus "saves me from becoming a professional bludger", he said. The Marketing Advisory Board meets every 2-3 weeks and a Councilbased newspaper is published to explain objectives. Success essential In wishing the NZ Winter Games well, Jim Little said it was a great concept but warned, because the South Island ski areas would dearly love to pick up on the idea, it was essential to ensure the success of these inaugural games in September. "Everyone must get involved", he said. Garrick Workman, who arrived during the meeting explained that he had spent the day in Wellington arguing for tourism in the Ruapehu District. He said that he'd been trying to get Transit NZ to recognise certain roads (which Transit NZ had intended to hand over to the Ruapehu District Council for upkeep and maintenance) to be designated as tourist routes. He stressed the importance of tourism to the district as the only other income in the area was Turn page 11

Winter games support

From page 5 derived from the rural industries and these were currently experiencing hard times. Council support Garrick Workmaii said the NZ Winter Games concept was a really great idea and the whole community should get behind it. He pledged the support of the Ruapehu District Council for these Games and said it also gave businesses throughout the Ruapehu district an opportunity to get involved by pledging their support. "It is the best thing ever to happen to the region", he said. He said he would investigate the re-intro-duction of a commercial rate on businesses such as that which had applied to the commercial sector of T aumarunui before it was scrapped last year in line with a different rating philosophy. In outlining the purpose of the New Zealand Winter Games, games director Andreas Hefti said it was important to get people to come to this region to enjoy what is available here:skiing, fishing, the mountain, the rivers, the bush and the many recreational amenities.

"It is a unique opportunity because here in the Central North Island we can stage both alpine and non-alpine winter games at the same time unlike European and American ski areas which are totally covered by snow during the winter months", he said. "Our Winter Games will feature alpine events on both the Whakapapa and Turoa skifields as well as other winter games both indoors and outdoors all around the mountain". "These will include rugby, netball, golf, hockey, cycling and roller blading, fun runs, triathlons, etc.". Indoors there will be squash, basketball, badminton, snooker, 8ball and darts as well as swimming. Good response All the townships around the region - Taumarunui, Turangi, Waiouru, National Park and Raetihi - will be involved and the response has been good. "Already 30 - 36 clubs in the Ruapehu district have agreed to participate with each club organising their own programmes under the umbrella of the New Zealand Winter Games", he said. Mr Hefti estimated

there would be up to 3,000 entries for the first Winter Games to be held over a 3 week period (15 September - 5 October) and up to 8,000 people visiting the area either as supporters or to participate in the social and entertainment events. "There could be as many as 160 separate events over a 3 week period", he said. He explained that the NZ Winter Games would be hosted by the Ruapehu South Business Association in Ohakune/Raetihi but each of the other townships would be organising their own programmes in conjunction the the NZWG Head Office in Clyde Street, Ohakune. This office would handle all marketing and media promotion in New

Zealand and overseas. It would also arrange sponsorships. It would also handle all administration and registration formalities initially so as to co-ordinate the events throughout the region but, thereafter, the running of the programmes in each area would be handed over to individual clubs and organisations. Convenor of last week's meeting, Sue Allomes of the RSBA, thanked the guest speakers and those who had attended and said the 'Ski Ruapehu' marketing campaign was right behind the NZ Winter Games project and that the NZ Winter Games organisation would be given an opportunity to promote the event at the forthcoming national ski shows starting in May.