Mainstreet reviews projects

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 578, 21 March 1995, Page 5

Mainstreet reviews projects

Several items of general interest were considered by the Winning Waimarino Mainstreet committee when they met last Monday evening. However it was reported that some projects had been 'put on hold' until the Mainstreet' s design consultant, John Achari, has visited Raetihi and Ohakune (see separate story). Raetihi □ Waimarino Museum in Seddon Street, Raetihi. The committee discussed the possibility of extending the opening hours of the museum to make it more accessible instead of 'on request', aS it is one of the major resources of the town. Ruapehu Visitor Centre's supervising information officer, Katie Bramwell, said she could steer a number of visitors towards Raetihi particularly during the winter months during bad weather. This would have a beneficial effect on all refailers in Seddon Street as tourists explored the town to identify old buildings and other places of historic interest after visiting the museum. (Note: the theme of any future Raetihi promotion is to be based on the caption:

'Historic Raetihi') □ Raetihi Pond. Bernice Frost (Raetihi Promotions) reported that the draining of the pond (alongside the Ohakune/Raetihi Road) preparatory to landscaping was to have been carried out during this past summer but work has not as yet started. Don Sattler of the Ruapehu District Council is to be contacted and it was reported that the Raetihi Rotary Club has already discussed the possibility of helping with the landscaping of the site. □ Raetihi footpaths. It was reported that money has been set aside to start repaving the Seddon Street footpath but work will not now start until the Winning Waimarino Mainstreet design consultant has made his recommendations as to this and other design-related projects. Ohakune □ Retailers Pennie Sands, representing the Ohakune Retailer's Association, reported that she had recently been elected chairperson of that organisation with Glynis Shepherd appointed secretary/treasurer. Turn to Page 6

Mainstreet reviews projects

FROM PAGE 5 She said the new owner of Peak FM, Geoff Anderson had offered support both to the local business community as well as to Ohakune's 'Carnival of Wheels'. She reported that "99 per cent' of local retailers had got behind the Carnival promotion and will be displaying publicity material leading up to and during the event. She also reported that Ohakune retailers also supported a proposal to produce an Ohakune/Raetihi brochure as well as a regularly up-dated 'Calendar of Events' programme in a brochure/leaflet form as both these initiatives would enhance a wider knowledge of the Waimarino area. □ New business ventures. Katie Bramwell (Ruapehu Visitor Centre) reported that the Ohakune office had been approached by two organisations wishing to set up new (recreational-sports) businesses in town providing they could find suitable sites. One was a go-karting venture seeking a building with a floor area of 10,000 sq ft (900 sq m), the other a bungyjumping operation in a suitable location. □ Mainstreet promotions. Peak FM have agreed to support a monthly promotional award for the best business in the Waimarino by providing a prize in the form of an offer of free air time for the

winning business. The Ohakune branch of Sam and Libby was voted as the most deserving business to qualify for this initial prize last month as they had recorded the highest turnover of all Sam and Libby shops in New Zealand. Kiwi Host David Squires, Kiwi Host co-ordinator, said the first Kiwi Host course he has conducted here was a great success with all nine participants passing. This brings the following local businesses into the Kiwi Host standard: Sunbeam Ski Lodge/Blyths Restaurant; Rimu Park Lodge; Ruapehu Homestead, Ruapehu Visitor Centre; The Old Court House in Raetihi. Three more local businesses have approached David Squires about becoming Kiwi Hosts and he agreed to look into providing a course tailored to the local seasonal cycle of staff training. Building better businesses Sue Allomes and David Squires put up a proposal for a series of seminars to be held April, May and June, for two 4-hour seminars on various topics to be held under such headings as: marketing and promotion; customer surveys; business development; business management; financial and business planning; staff selection, training and supervision; customer services.