Marketing may be contracted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 429, 24 March 1992, Page 1

Marketing may be contracted

Ruapehu 's marketing work may be contracted out, following the non appointment of a district marketing manager. The idea to contract

out the work came from Promotion and Development Subcomittee member Scott Lee during their meeting Monday last week. Mr Lee, mar-

keting manager for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, joined the committee for the first time. He said the Ruapehu District Council's

$90,000 budget did not compare with those of the councils of Taupo, Rotorua and Queenstown. The money should be

given to another organisation, such as Taumarunui Development Incorporated (TDI), who would be given guide lines set down by the council to work on marketing the district. After discussion the committee agreed that the idea should be studied to see if it could work. Mayor Garrick Workman said the council could set up its own marketing arm as a business unit and do the job itself, rather than keep Turnpage2

Marketing may be contracted

From page 1 funding groups such as ProTaum, TDI , and Ruapehu South Business Association. The committee was considering requests for funding amounting to $224,976 at the meeting, which included the $90,000 for the marketing manager. Funding requested was: $18,976 from TDI for general office and operating expenses; $6000 for Ruapehu video promotion in conjunction with the Lifespan Mountains to the Sea multisports race; $31,500 for ProTaum for information centre staff salary; $45,000 for the RSBA for visitor centre salaries; $20,000

for the Raetihi Information Centre for salaries: $10,000 for tourist signs; $1000 for the Ski Ruapehu Marketing Campaign; and $1500 for the Ruapehu Visitor Centre building maintenance. Representatives of ProTaum and RSBA on the committee told Mr Workman that he was

underestimating the voluntary work which was part of their group's activities, in making such a suggestion. If the council took over their work that voluntary effort would go by the wayside, they said. Member Eddie Turley said ratepayers were un-

willing to see any more costs put onto the council by way of promotion "because they don't see where it's going". He said not everyone believed tourism was a growing area and that convincing dissenters was difficult. The committee felt Mr Lee's suggestion would

allow for a support role and make the most of the left-over money. There was some concern that the move would be seen as a back-down by the council over the marketing manager appointment, though Mr Workman said, as long as the necessary service was provided, that was the least of his worries. Councillor Bill Peach said commercial ratepayers may object to the idea having paid a special rate to employ a marketing manager. He said they would have to get their permission if the money was to be spent in a different direction. "By not making that appointment and employing an organisation or even an individual to do the thing on contract we could still achieve something positive and at the same time satisfy some of those people who were so opposed," said Councillor Graeme Cosford. The committee decided not to make any recommendations on funds requested until the contract marketing study had been investigated, apart from the Mountains to Sea grant (see separate story).