Ohakune's seasonal cycle much in evidence

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 26, 29 November 1983, Page 5

Ohakune's seasonal cycle much in evidence

Ohakune is acquiring a definitely'bleak'appearance as houses and chalets empty and shops and business premises close down after the poorest skiing season in years. In Ohakune's main street one jewellery shop, one fast food bar and one ski hire premises have been vacated. The Chuckwagon Fast Food takeaways on the corner of Clyde and Goldfinch streets ceased trading last month. According to proprietor Bill Willis the main problem was that he had been given licence to provide food but was not allowed to install even minimal seating facilities — bar stools, counters or stalls — so that customers could eat their food on the premises. In the winter this meant his clients, other than those who were able to park their cars nearby, had no protection from the weather, ^^his, combined with a flr season and fewer skiers made the operation marginal in winter and unviable in summer. Another shop to close last month was Jewellery Etcetera next to the Chuckwagon in Clyde Street. A Masterton-based company which had only commenced operations in Ohakune in June this year, reported that trade through . the winter season was reasonably good but it had .

meant that staff from the Masterton shop had to be rostered on a week-by-week to come up to Ohakune. With the prospects of a downturn in trade over the summer months it was decided to close down the Ohakune premises with a possibility of reviewing the situation again next winter. Andreas Hefti's Ski Hire in Clyde Street has also closed down that particular operation but Andreas is in the process of establishing a new tourist-orientated business only a short distance away in the main street. To be known as the International Sports School, Ohakune, this new venture will seek to build up Ohakune as an all-year-round tourist resort by promoting and offering a range of sporting and recreational pursuits that will attract tourists from overseas as well as from other parts of New Zealand. The International Sports School will be arranging a variety of events and offering coaching facilities in a number of sports throughout the year. And by providing a booking service for accommodation and distributing tourist information about the range of tourist-type amenities that already exist here Andreas hopes that the local business community will also benefit from his

promotional efforts on behalf of Ohakune. Another shop which has been on the market for some time — McGlynns Fashions also in Clyde Street — is definitely not closing down whether the business is sold or not. This assurance was given by the Taumarunui-based proprietors, Mervand Chris Fitzgibbon, last week when they said that they were in fact very pleased with the support the Ohakune shop received from the Waimarino Community. Whilst the Ohakune premises have not yet been in operation for a full year they are confident that the summer trade will be well supported as McGlynns will be offering people in the Waimarino a wide range of fashionwear that they can't obtain elsewhere without having to go out of the district.