Boom season for resort town
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Hanmer Springs is booming as Kiwis spend their holidays closer to home.
Hurunui Tourism product development manager Graeme Abbot said the domestic market had grown and he expected the town to be back to pre-Covid levels by Christmas.
"We thought it would take a good three years to get the international market back, so we are doing pretty well.
"Talking to the accommodation and hospitality businesses, they all seem to be doing pretty well and forward bookings seem pretty positive."
Businesses have been affected by power outages, but the Hanmer basin has come through the fire season largely unscathed.
The town has a permanent population of about 1000 people, but it can swell to more than 5000 in the weekend.
Events like the recent Hanmer MotorFest, the new Bandquet music festival, and running and multisport events, consistently draw visitors to the town.
Abbot said there was a growing number of attractions in the village, with Manuka Skies now offering a dark sky experience.
Manuka Skies started up last year offering a stargazing experience, with the goal of setting up an observatory on Mt Rodney for private and community use.
The hot pools, winter skiing, mountain bike and walking trails continue to be the biggest drawcards.
A new Hanmer Forest sculpture walk was challenging the Conical Hill loop track as "the busiest walk", while disc golf was also proving to be popular, Abbot said.
Hanmer Holiday Homes owner Jason Fletcher said Hanmer tended to do well in a recession, as New Zealanders opted to visit the tourist town in preference to heading overseas.
But people were "a bit more cautious", leading to a change in the nature of bookings.
"Forward bookings used to be six months in advance and then it became six weeks, but now it is six days in advance, so there are a lot more last minute bookings."
Fletcher said about 80% of his business was from Canterbury visitors, which remained strong.
Guest surveys indicated the thermal pools and forest walks were the most popular activities for Hanmer Holiday Homes guests.
Dining, retail therapy, mountain biking and relaxation were also popular.
Hurunui Tourism is a partnership between the Hurunui District Council and tourism operators.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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