'Togetherness' is theme of promotion message

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 12, 21 August 1984, Page 1

'Togetherness' is theme of promotion message

All five speakers at the 'very special' business lunch held in the Ohakune Club on Thursday 9 August to promote Ohakune and the Waimarino, spoke of the need for 'togetherness' to get the promotion message across. About 150 people from the local business community and organisations associated with the tourist industry attended the lunch and related activities which had been organised by the Ohakune Promotions Association, AHI Turoa Skifields, Ohakune Growers Association and Skigold, Before lunch, in gloriously fine weather, guests were treated to a 'vegetable extravaganza' put on by children of the Ohakune Primary School who had adorned themselves as carrots, peas, potatoes, tomatoes, parsnips, turnips and brussel sprouts. Airborne carrot The grand finale to this picturesque display of animated vegetation was provided when the top half of one of Ohakune's two big fibreglass carrots was flown in by helicopter to be deposited — very gentiy and accurately by Wanganui Aero Work's pilot, Lisa Patterson — to form a centre-piece in a display of market garden produce already on the ground next to the Ohakune Club. Inside the club many different static displays of local produce and services had been arranged and a brief fashion parade of ski gear was presented before the excellent lunch. Guest speakers Speakers included Mr Bill Taylor, Mayor of Ohakune, Mr Tony Wright, Manager of AHI Turoa Skifields, Mr Peter Hammond, president of the Ohakune Growers' Association, Mr Mike Wiggins, former chairman of the Ohakune Promotions Association and Mr Terry Drayton of Skigold. Mr Taylor, in his opening address, spoke of the

collective community interests within the borough of Ohakune and referred to the growth in business development during the years he has been here ... "it's not only apparent but rampant" he said and mentioned the continued building activity throughout the borough. Mike Wiggins gave a brief outline of the aims and objectives of the Ohakune Promotions Association and said that in the five years he has been involved, the Association had seen a need for a change with the development of the Turoa Skifield in 1979. In 1982 a nationally televised $30,000 advertising campaign based on the theme: 'Ohakune — where adventures begin', was screened. This had the effect of putting Ohakune on the map ... at least no-one had the excuse to ask: 'Where's Ohakune?' Last year $25,000 was spent on a magazine and newspaper campaign which reinforced the image of Ohakune as a tourist resort "so everyone gets something out of the promotion of Ohakune," he said. 'Communication is the key' Tony Wright of Turoa said that "communication is the key word when it comes to marketing Ohakune and the Waimarino." "And I do mean the entire Waimarino," he said, "because for every $1 spent on the skifield, $8 is spent off the skifield on such things as petrol, transport, accommodation, food, retail and other alternative forms of recreation and sport." Mr Wright said that Ohakune has got to be seen as a destination resort for a wide range of activities throughout the Waimarino region and he praised the entrepreneurial skills and spirit of the township. He reminded guests that even though Turoa opened only five years ago the skifield was already comparable to other muchlonger established skifields.

Since it started in 1979 Turoa has re-invested 12% of its turnover each year in developing the skifield facilities further. Terry Drayton of Skigold confirmed that last season was a bad season both collectively and individually for all businesses in town and that was the first time, since the development of the skifield five years ago that this prospect had had to be faced. He pointed out that the tourist market, which depended on people and the elements, was extremely volatile. Time is limited Ohakune only had six weeks left in which to compress all its ski related promotional activities and it could not afford to take chances. That is why the 'carrot cavalcade' from Wellington to Palmerston North and Wanganui and back to Ohakune had been arranged for last Friday. "But all businesses will benefit from this exposure by drawing attention to Ohakune and the produce and services it offers," he said. "And if necessary we will continue to run the 'carrot cavalcade' north, east, south and west to make the whole country aware of what is available here in Ohakune and the Waimarino." Appeal for support Peter Hammond of the Ohakune Growers Association referred to the long involvement of market gardening with the community ... "79 years of continuity and stability." In that time Ohakune had demonstrated that, in terms of quality, "its produce was the best" and this awareness was now widely accepted. He stressed that "it was important for us all to work together towards a common interest." All speakers appealed to the business community at large to support the promotion of Ohakune and the Waimarino for the common good.