Posts Tagged ‘sustainability’
NZx: June 30th cathedral thinking
Ata mārie
As we discussed in last months blog the Government has now moved on introducing a proposed visitor levy.
There may not be much debate that such a solution is needed with international visitor arrivals hitting 3.7m last year, and forecast to top 5m by 2024, almost twice the number we welcomed in 2012.
As many of us are aware, such growth has resulted in congested roads, overcrowding at popular destinations, and overloaded sewage and water systems, all putting pressure on local council budgets.
The tourism industry argues that tourism raises (through GST) around $1.47 billion annually. The predicted income from the levy is not a lot (around $ 57-80 million a year) and is certainly a lot less than the likely investment required to fix issues of around $ 150 million annually.
The issue gets further muddied with a recent report suggesting that on one hand the Government profits to the tune of $2.6b annually, while on the other some local authorities in tourism struggle to maintain essential services to ratepayers and visitors alike.
The muddy waters become even more turbid with bed tax proposals being supported by some large Councils. However these do not appear to be gaining Government support at either local or national levels. This potential source of funds may be resolved later this year when the Productivity Commission reports back on options for local government funding.
The key points of the current visitor levy proposal include:
* Most international visitors entering New Zealand for 12 months or less would be charged a levy, proposed to be between $25 to $35
* There would be some exemptions, most notably Australian citizens and permanent residents and people from most Pacific Island Forum countries
* The levy would be collected through visa fees and via the proposed Electronic Travel Authority process, also under consultation, for citizens of visa waiver countries
* The levy would collect around $57-80 million in its first year, depending on the rate, which will be split between tourism infrastructure and conservation activity.
The consultation on the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is open until July 15th . As an aside related consultation on the Electronic Travel Authority and fees and levies proposals are also open, find out about both at MBIE.
It is likely that the proposed levy will come into effect in November.
In our view the levy is somewhat of a smokescreen. The tourism industry more than pays its way through GST and other fees. The $ 2.6 billion raised in this manner could easily be redistributed to fund infrastructure and development needs without the need for a levy or bed taxes.
It’s about cathedral thinking, something that successful governments have failed to build on with the visitor industry.
Decisions should be made now by the Government to invest monies raised by international visitors to facilitate the sustainable future of Aotearoa, particularly in the infrastructure and conservation fields.
Mā te wā
NZx: April 30th – an (un) certain future?
Naumai
Our environment is changing there can be no doubt. Whether this is due to factors such as human interference, over fishing, climate change, or a combination, many species in NZ face an (un) certain future.
In this blog we explore an (un) certain future for New Zealand sea lions or whakahao/rāpoka. You can out more about these remarkable mammals here and here.
My first encounter with New Zealand sea lions was deep in the myriad of waterways that make up Port Pegasus on Rakiura/Stewart Island. We had seen the sleek creamy brown outline of females in the water as we made our approach to land. Stepping ashore we began to wander through the primeval forest until suddenly a large brown male stood up on it’s hind flippers and roared at us from behind a prostrate rata tree. This was a truly remarkable NZx experience!
Since then I’ve been lucky enough to encounter both sexes on many parts of southern mainland New Zealand and other areas of Rakiura/Stewart Island. A recent journey to Dunedin and the Catlins led to further encounters with a variety of New Zealand sea lions. It is always intriguing when encountering threatened wildlife, that so many of the visitors in these “off the beaten track” places are from overseas. Don’t we as New Zealander’s value what we have?
On a parallel path the potential loss of the Hoiho from mainland New Zealand within a few decades is another indication of how fragile our environment is. You can find more about Hoiho here and here. Despite this bleak lookout for such an iconic species, advocacy around the issue and more importantly potential action, is frustratingly slow and deafeningly quiet.
Where does that leave New Zealand sea lions (whakahao/rāpoka) and their future as an iconic New Zealand species? We have previously commented on the wider issue of economic development and lack of input from tourism operators and environmental interests when it comes to New Zealand sea lions – see our March 2017 blogspot .
Much of our tourism product is based around the broader environment, without a coordinated approach to managing what we have, tourism itself is at risk.
How can we promote ourselves to the world as an environmentally sensitive country, that cares for our taonga, when so much of what makes this country special faces an (un) certain future?
Ka kite ano
NZ Sea lions – Catlins Coast
Port Pegasus
NZx: March 22nd – southern road trip
Naumai
It is always a privilege to “share” Aotearoa / New Zealand. It matters little if the audience is domestic or international , hitting the road to explore our place in the world is one of life’s pleasures.
This summer was however different. Tasked with sharing the southern part of the South Island with a group of international visitors (including over the Chinese New Year period) I reflected on what one might find.
Reading and listening to media headlines I was expecting a constant stream of polluting freedom campers, over priced food and lodging, little space, tired operators, and people literally everywhere – even in my normally quiet haunts and secluded places!
The trip took in every destination and more, between Christchurch and Bluff via the Catlins, Manapouri, Te Anau Queenstown and Wanaka.
So summing up the trip was a great success, we achieved most things we promised our visitors and more. We saw rare and endangered wildlife, meet some fantastic locals, enjoyed great food and wine and the whole gambit of southern landscapes.
That of course is the official version.
My overwhelming impression after ten days on the road in the southern South Island, is of too many people in too many locations. I mean literally no one used to go to Slope Point (the most southern point of mainland NZ) , a full car park at Bluff mid afternoon (great views) and absolutely no where to turn in Wanaka around 4pm.
I am apprehensive when I hear local operators saying that bookings for next year re even higher than this summer, in one case up to a third. What does that mean for tourism’s social license to operate?
Here are some facts:
The number of international visitors coming into NZ averages over 320,000 a month
This is an average yearly growth of over 5.65 for the last ten years
More than one in ten jobs is indirectly generated by tourism
International visitors contribute $ 40 million per day to the economy
And New Zealander’s (2017) views on tourism
96% of us agree tourism is good for NZ 35% think tourism puts too much pressure on NZ 21% think there are too many visitors
Challenges for NZ’s around international visitors include: road congestion, litter and a high risk of motor accidents
In earlier blogs we have discussed the opportunities and challenges for tourism in maintaining and enhancing a social license to operate. Some initiatives such as Tourism Aotearoa’s sustainable tourism are small step in the right direction. But if this years southern experience on the road is next years reality, then we have a serious problem – with no coordinated response in sight.
Ka kite ano
Visitors on the beach – Moeraki Boulders
NZx: February 10th Manaakitanga in the C21
Naumai
Is this really the best manaakitanga we can offer?
Tourism New Zealand suggests: the meaning of manaakitanga is much broader than a one word or direct translation.
It can be broken down into three parts: mana-ā-ki which loosely translates as ‘the power of the word’ and reminds hosts to be expressive and fluent in welcoming visitors.
Another explanation has the words mana / prestige and ki te tangata / to the people – pointing out the importance of enhancing the mana which covers the integrity, status / prestige, and power of guests.
Here, as our experience suggests, a great day out was left wanting in manaakitanga by our introduction to Fullers ferry and the introduction by staff on arrival at Rotoroa Island.
Our manaakitanga component started off by having to queue for the ferry. No big deal but despite being early morning it was a burning , windless day. People who had queued early inside the perspex cover were eventually forced to abandon their place in line and escape the hot tapped air. It was seriously stifling.
There was general confusion about who was queuing for what. Was this the ferry to Rangitoto, Tiritiri Matangi or Rotoroa Island? No signs, or technology, not even temporary, just two staff that came and went answering the same questions as to the destination.
Two minutes after leaving the wharf we returned – someone had got on the wrong ferry……. That’s despite a handheld scanner that supposedly scanned everybody aboard including our mobile phone downloaded tickets. Only problem was it couldn’t read the bar code on our phone!
On arrival all seventy plus of us were crammed into a small hot shed on the wharf and given a rambling presentation about the history, issues and do’s and dont’s on the Island. We fully support the bio-security intent behind this – but having endured countless windblown ( you can’t here the words and often the speakers aren’t great) welcomes at Tiritiri Matangi and other DOC/partner managed islands, one has to wonder is there a better way? It is human nature to not what to be confined (see Maslow) and to be acknowledged and treated with intelligence. This and other Island welcomes don’t do this! DOC and it’s partners should use other ways of pushing the bio-security message to what is mostly an already knowledgeable audience.
The final straw was when the ranger announced a different ferry departure time back to Auckland than that advertised in the various Fullers media. Normally extra time on an Island such as Rotoroa would be great, but we had organised a busy late afternoon around the quoted departure time and arrival back in Auckland.
The last comment the ranger made before “releasing us” was to invite us back inside the shed before we got on the return ferry – surely not!
In the end it was with much thankfulness that the staff on Rotoroa didn’t invite us back into the hot little shed on the wharf to say haere ra! Everyone was far too busy enjoying the sunshine, swimming off the wharf an enjoying their last minutes on the Island.
Rotoroa Island is a fantastic day out. But two of the key partners need to up their game in the manaakitanga stakes. The basic mana of visitors just isn’t being respected.
Ka kite ano
Sculpture on Rotoroa
Island
NZx – August 22nd: A social license to operate
Naumai
Continued growth in New Zealand tourism is raising questions over it’s social license to operate. As Tourism Aotearoa states ” Tourism will only achieve our Tourism 2025 aspirational goal if we maintain and enhance our social licence to operate. We are encouraging tourism operators to recognise the importance of growing their businesses in a way which balances the economic, social and environmental impacts.”
There is no widely accepted definition of a social license to operate (SLO). However a recent paper by the Sustainable Business Council suggests key attributes include:
Ka kite ano
Just what is tourism’s social license to operate in NZ?
NZx – June 29th: water, water everywhere…..
Naumai
Water, water everywhere so whats the issue…….?
A recent visit to Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls, revealed a deeply discoloured waterway, with warning signs about the quality of the water, and danger to swimmers. Standing in the midst of 217 ha Wairēinga Scenic Reserve, surrounded by tawa-dominated forest, watching the water flow over 55 metres basalt cliffs, one wonders how this could happen in New Zealand.
There is good work being done in parts of the catchment. Over 8kms of native planting in an area upstream of the waterfall has been completed as part of a local initiative coordinated by Whaingaroa Harbour Care.
Water is already to be established as a key component of this years elections. A recent survey by Lincoln University (8th Public Perceptions of New Zealand’s Environment) canvassed New Zealander’s views about aspects of the environment .
The worst managed environments were perceived to be rivers, lakes, and groundwater, largely on account of very negative perceptions concerning the management of farm effluent and runoff. In fact, nearly 60 percent of respondents deemed farming to be one of the three main causes of damage to freshwater.
In a separate report, Our fresh water environment 2017, found nearly three quarters of native freshwater fish species are threatened by or at risk of extinction, as well as a third of native freshwater invertebrates and a third of native freshwater plants.
All of these reports raise the current issues, but also note the lack of data, and that the snapshot doesn’t take into account the slow movement through aquifers – such as those in Canterbury. The real impact on communities in these area may take many years to surface.
Both New Zealand’s leading export industries, tourism and farming, need to better manage their social license to operate in the environmental space. Water quality, the wider environment and sustainability are discussions (and subsequent actions) that need to form a key part of the this years conversations.
Ka kite ano
Waireinga/Bridal Veil Falls
NZx March 25th: the pace of change
Naumai
There is no doubt that the pace of change in New Zealand tourism is continuing to grow: everywhere you look there are more visitors out there experiencing what NZ has to offer. A recent trip to the West Coast confirmed that. Even a site like Oparara http://www.karameainfo.co.nz/oparara-basin/ was very busy.
Some of the tourism issues have or are being well debated. Issues such as freshwater, overcrowding at key sites, climate change and visitor levy’s are all part of the current “conversation”.
On a broader level, but very closely aligned with increasing tourism, a number of issues were highlighted last year by Jan Wright, Commissioner for the Environment. Wright raised four key issues: climate change, slow progress in marine protection, lack of trees on unstable hill country, and concerns over the future of our wildlife.
She made the interesting point that environmental issues, rather than separate domains (air, land, marine, climate and fresh water), should form the basis of the shared story. This more holistic approach makes common sense.
Wright’s comments reflect the split in the key debates, and lack of an holistic approach, being canvassed over NZ tourism, the environment and business.
Mayor Goff’s accommodation tax being one such initiative.
A wider, holstic example is the recent study identifying Rakiura’s Port Pegasus for a potential new salmon farming enterprise http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/90883538/Stewart-Island-chosen-for-possible-new-aquaculture-project . This central-government funded programme involves Ngai Tahu, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Sorry – where is tourism in that mix? Its unbelievable that tourism opportunities are currently heavily restricted in Pegasus yet an industry with doubtful environmental credentials is being supported.
NZ tourism is entering a sensitive phase, particularly in regard to the potential effects on local communities of such growth and the shutting out of potential added value tourism opportunities.
Ka kite ano
Malcolm
Visitors on Rakiura/Stewart Island
NZx January 27th: Northland / Te Tai Tokerau
Naumai
Northland /Te Tai Tokerau is a fantastic place. There are many icons to visit here; Tane Mahuta, Russell, Waitangi, Cape Reinga or any beach with golden sands, pohutakawa and sparking blue sea.
A recent visit to Northland enabled us to spend some time exploring both the icons and the back roads.
The icons are all there, service was mostly good but some of the infrastructure was looking decidedly tired and away from the icons – empty. Most of the tourism entities were either staffed by Caucasian or international transients. While hyped up with great marketing the cultural interaction was limited, oversold and didn’t address many of the basics of great visitor experiences.
Beyond the icons it wasn’t to hard to find another story. Hints of elitism, exclusion and then poverty and well… another world one which most New Zealanders aren’t aware of..
It’s sometimes useful to look beyond our initial impressions, and to reflect on how tourism could provide a positive contribution to all in it’s community.
Ka kite ano
Tane Mahuta – a Northland / Te Tai Tokerau icon
NZx October 14th : Crunch summer ahead
Naumai
All the indications are that this will be a crunch summer for tourism in New Zealand.
Reports suggest many accommodation providers are full, attractions run the risk of turning people away and transport providers (particularly rental providers) have invested in new stock.
The likelihood is that international visitors will be here in increasing numbers, particularly in iconic locations. Will that create a problem with New Zealand domestic visitors seeking the relatively uncrowded experience they have been accustomed too?
Ship Cove/Meretoto in Queen Charlotte Sound is a case in point. Easily accessible by scheduled boat services, private vessel and some international cruise ships, the iconic site maybe under threat from sheer numbers this summer. The track (and it certainly isn’t of a great standard) is often quiet but from November to March that changes. At any one time the narrow track can be full of visitors, both domestic and international, throughout the day. At what stage is the visitor experience compromised?
Solutions to this “nice to have” problem are complex. Tourism New Zealand is moving to focus marketing efforts on the shoulder season, the conversation around taxing international visitors is gaining momentum and both traditional media and social media are focusing on the opportunities.
Ka kite ano
Ship Cove / Meretoto, Marlborough Sounds
NZx 15th November : Cruized
Naumai
One has to “admire” the persistence of the public relations machine that surrounds big ship cruising.
Trumpets sounding the largest cruise ship ever to visit New Zealand arrived in Dunedin yesterday. The constant lobbying of the sector for improved facilities for their clients is paramount. The large cruise ships arrive, spend hours shipping their passengers ashore, spend even longer shipping them away from the local community to some far off attraction, spend hours shipping their passengers back on board, then leave.
In contrast, small ships such as the Oceanic Discoverer (max capacity 72 passengers) are in a different space. Spending 12 nights exploring New Zealand they visit, and stay, in regional ports and in local anchorages. Exploration ships such as these require no facilities: other than a port visit once in the middle and at the beginning and end of their 12 night cruise.
There are no casinos, live shows or in many cases television. The “entertainment” are the guest lecturers or expedition leaders. The subjects: New Zealand inc. They use local operators and often allow passengers to arrange their own evening meal ashore.
They don’t lobby for expensive on-shore facilities where they do stop. All they simply need is a wharf and gangplank.
Surely this is a better long term sustainable outcome for NZ tourism than 5,000 people dumped amongst a bunch of logs miles from a city.
It’s a little like the Chinese market.Quick, get the masses in don’t worry about the long-term sustainability of the sector, or the industry. In fact it is deja-vu. We have all been through this with the Korean market not so long ago.
Think what happened to the large ship cruise market in Alaska. The effects that I have seen with my own eyes on small communities, the environment and the costly facilities built, linger on. Search the web for impacts of large cruise ships…….
The large cruise ship market is fickle. One day New Zealand Inc won’t be flavour of the month.
Ka kite ano
Malcolm
the way of the future – sustainable small cruise ship exploring