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2074 days ago

Promoting tourism in Wairarapa

Piers Fuller Reporter from News of Wairarapa

Wairarapa is being increasingly recognised by tourists as an undiscovered gem and a new video tourism campaign targeting Australians aims to further boost visitor numbers to the region.
MBIE’s latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates for December 2018 show domestic tourism spending in the Wairarapa increased 11.1 per cent to $153.2 and the international visitor spend by 2.4 per cent to $37.2 million.
The Australian tourism spend – Australia is easily the Wellington region’s largest international tourism market – increased by 4.8 per cent to $11.7 million for 2018.
WREDA and Destination Wairarapa have joined forces in a new online tourism video campaign targeting older Australians to visit Wairarapa. Anecdotally, Australian travellers in the 55-74-year-old age group are more likely to explore regional Wellington as part of their Wellington vacation.
The video was made by Wellington-based production company Flying Saucer.
WREDA General Manager David Perks says the online campaign invites Australians to include some time in Wairarapa as part of a four or five day visit to the capital.
“Many visitors to New Zealand are looking for that mix of a vibrant, fun city experience and a more relaxed vibe and beautiful landscapes.
“It doesn’t get much better than the Wellington and Wairarapa combo. Wellington offers a creative, compact city experience and Wairarapa jaw-dropping coastline, charming towns and villages, and a world-class wine scene. It’s the perfect short break package.”
Destination Wairarapa Marketing Manager Barbara Hyde says Statistics New Zealand’s Commercial Accommodation Monitor report for the year ending December 2018 showed Wairarapa guest nights were up 10.9 per cent, or 26,302 more guest nights.
“Compare this growth against any region in the country and the Wairarapa is clearly continuing on its upward growth trajectory. It’s an outstanding result for the region,” Ms Hyde says.
C’est Cheese owner Paul Broughton says his Featherston-based shop has been going gangbusters.
“Since opening in 2013, C'est Cheese has experienced significant year-on-year increases in visitor numbers, noticeably so over the last 24 months. We receive a healthy mix of national and international guests, all of whom are very much focused on local product and experiences.
“This growth in visitor numbers has encouraged us to recently invest in a new cheese-themed dine in option, significant expansion of the retail premises and the completion of our own small in-house cheese factory.”

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.

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4 days ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 85.6% Yes
    85.6% Complete
  • 13.2% No
    13.2% Complete
  • 1.2% Other - I'll share below
    1.2% Complete
1846 votes
1 day ago

Railing planters

The Team from Resene ColorShop Masterton

To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.

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