Waka rides plan for Avon in October
Waka rides on Christchurch’s Avon River are still earmarked to begin in October this year, despite New Zealand’s borders remaining closed to international tourists.
The cultural experience company behind the proposed waka rides, Ko Ta¯ ne, is retargeting its venture towards the domestic market, and wants to make the experience more family friendly.
Ko Ta¯ ne co-director Mark Willis said the ride could be more about ‘‘having fun and enjoying yourself’’ instead of learning about the city’s cultural heritage.
‘‘We still have faith in what we’re doing, we’re just going to have to modify slightly and be a little bit patient.’’
Ko Ta¯ ne hoped people would be able to board the waka from Victoria Square or the Margaret Mahy Playground.
Willis said the company was also considering a waka experience that would go deeper into the red zone so people could see ‘‘stretches of the river that sort of . . . are a little bit more closed off to the public nowadays’’.
He said it was ‘‘early days’’ for the project, ‘‘but we’re still quite enthusiastic about trying to get waka on the river for the people of Christchurch’’.
Between now and the planned October school holidays launch, Willis said Ko Ta¯ ne needed to trial the waka and train the staff, as well as negotiate with the Christchurch City Council about the tours.
‘‘It’s nothing that is overly onerous,’’ Willis said.
The company had planned to launch the waka from a new Ma¯ ori cultural centre at 794 Colombo St.
In January, Willis said he hoped the centre, named Puari Village, would open in October.
However, construction had to stop because of the Covid-19 lockdown, and the development’s opening has been delayed.
Willis said he was talking with his builder about a new completion date.
‘‘We anticipate that there will be some delay possibly in the actual opening of the product, in terms of the international side of the business,’’ he said.
The $3.5 million development was designed to be an interactive tourism attraction, with art, exhibitions and contemporary Ma¯ ori cuisine. It was also planned to be the launch site for the waka tours.
Willis said the centre was in ‘‘wait-and-see mode’’ and he hoped to coincide its opening with the return of international tourism.