The Government this morning has launched a draft Aotearoa-New Zealand Government Tourism Strategy which it says is an important step in ensuring that all New Zealanders benefit from "productive, sustainable and inclusive" tourism growth.
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said the strategy proposed a more co-ordinated and active role for government in tourism.
A passionate new citizen-driven group is aiming to make Waiheke the first carbon-neutral populated island in the country.
This local carbon-neutral initiative comes at an incredibly important time, with the world’s leading climate scientists calling for immediate carbon-eliminating measures in the race against disastrous climate change.
Read MoreConservation Minister Eugenie Sage stated that if Waiheke is predator free by its 2025 goal, “it will be the largest populated island in the world to be predator free. With 9000 people here on Waiheke, it’s a world first that you are aiming for.”
Read MoreNational, local and area politicians united last Wednesday to denounce increased council rates imposed on holiday accommodation providers. A future shortage of overnight accommodation is predicted, leading to more day trippers and a lower spend per visitor.
Read MoreOn 30 May 2018 the Environment Court upheld the resource consent for the construction of a marina in Kennedy Point Bay previously granted to Kennedy Point Boatharbour Limited (KPBL).
Sebastian Cassie, SKP Inc.’s internal manager, says “This is the sixth year in a row the Waiheke community is being asked to dig deep to protect the environment, first at Matiatia, then Kennedy Point Bay. It’s tiring.”
Read MoreAs island residents and tourism providers alike gear up for Labour Weekend, summer visitors and the annual pre-Christmas party-goers, we’ve been delighted to see that Fullers has been giving priority queuing to locals wherever possible, and putting on extra boats to ensure that we all get to work and home again where it’s evident from the queues that not everyone was going to get onto the waiting ferry. Thank you Mike Horne and your staff.
On the tourism front, several Waiheke businesses have recently won awards for their unique products. Travel+Leisure magazine has announced Waiheke as the 5th-best island in the world to visit, and we will have another Headlands on the island in February. These all herald great news for Waiheke businesses, but a mixed blessing as visitors cram the ferries and beaches. Elsewhere in the world, high-volume tourist destinations are adopting a range of strategies for communities to cope with what is now termed “over-tourism”.
One major issue for Waihekeans is the struggle it becomes for some islanders to find a place to live over the summer and beyond, as so much of Waiheke’s rental housing stock is converted to Airbnb rental. Another bouquet to Bayley’s proprietor and long-time Waiheke resident Mary Curnow for becoming principal sponsor of the Waiheke Community Housing Trust, supporting less affluent locals to live in stable accommodation.
On that topic, Project Forever Waiheke is pleased to announce an event that will be of interest to locals. On 24 October, Professor Robin Kearns (an occasional local) and a group of his graduate students will be giving a presentation on Life When Renting on Waiheke – everyone is welcome (St John’s Hall, 5.30-7.30).
Project Forever Waiheke is working currently to support a range of monitoring and research projects on tourism impacts on Waiheke. If you are interested in taking part in these, please email Convenor Pam Oliver pam.oliver.waiheke@gmail.com to find out more.
Read More5.30-7.30pm, Wednesday 24th October, St John’s Hall, 5 Belgium St, Ostend
The National Science Challenge Ageing Well project Life When Renting involves case studies in the Bay of Plenty, Marlborough and Waiheke Island. The Waiheke case study involved two phases of in-depth interviews with older renters. Our analysis of narratives revealed stories of uncertainty and hardship that challenge the glossy-brochure images of island life. Read more…
Read MoreProject Forever Waiheke is offering a $5,000 scholarship to support a Masters project in 2019, with the aim of creating a GIS (geographical information structure) to contain data concerning the uses and habitats of Waiheke Island's terrestrial and marine environment. Read more…
Read MoreA recent household survey has highlighted issues raised by Waiheke Island residents. Auckland Council hopes to address these issues as part of a three-year pilot programme, launched last year.
The three-year pilot started in December to trial ways of giving the Waiheke Local Board and community more influence over decision-making.
The council’s Research and Evaluation Unit sent 4734 households letters, with 477 responding, as part of the project to provide a baseline of where concerns rest.
The full survey results can be found here.
Read More
A community-led initiative committed to developing sustainable community and tourism strategy for Waiheke Island, and to monitoring tourism impacts.
