Calling all Kiwis: Akaroa needs you
Akaroa businesses fear the town will ‘‘die’’ without local visitors this winter and hope for a Queen’s Birthday Weekend influx.
Suffering Akaroa businesses fear the Banks Peninsula town will ‘‘die’’ without domestic winter visitors and are pinning their hopes on an influx for Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
The township usually starts to slow down in May when cruise ships no longer bring thousands of visitors, and summer-inclined international tourists head to warmer shores – but coronavirus meant that came earlier this year.
Blue Pearl gallery manager Ilona Pawlowski said they lost a few months of ‘‘buffer’’, including five or six Covid-19-plagued cruise ships banned from entry, which would usually help businesses through the winter.
‘‘That’s a lot of money. This town is going to die without those numbers [in future],’’ she said.
‘‘We’re in the s..., every single business here is in the s .... ’’
Blue Pearl’s main business – 90 per cent – is from deep-pocketed international tourists, mainly cruise ship passengers disembarking at its doorstep.
‘‘Like most New Zealand businesses in a rural setting, Akaroa usually shuts down in winter. June, July and August are our ghost months.’’
The gallery had two customers on the first day of level 2, nine the next, then 16. Its biggest daily takings have been $94.
Locals say the town has always had naysayers about the influx of cruise ships and huge tourist numbers.
But those voices are quiet now, as the town figures out how to retain its livelihood without them.
The warm autumn weather has so far lured domestic travellers, but ‘‘come mid-June we’re going to be a ghost town’’, Pawlowski said.
The town has no skifields or hot pools, but does have scenery, dolphins and beautiful walks.
Opening the Australian border would help, she said.
As The Press left the gallery, her sister, Magda Pawlowski, got off the phone excited to say they made a sale. A repeat customer from California.
She has taken to promoting more online. But the $2000 price tags usually leave customers wanting to see them in person before buying.
Magda Pawlowski hopes the borders open for another reason. She had already been away from her children and husband in Taiwan for seven months when the border shut and her flight home was cancelled.
She has busied herself helping her family business, but hopes she can fly home in July since Taiwan has been case-free for 32 days, and never needed a lockdown.
Further along the waterfront, Bully Hayes bar manager Fiona Bannan said she feels positive.
The restaurant is quieter without international tourists, but Cantabrians are returning to their baches at weekends.
Like other Akaroa businesses, she hangs hope on Kiwis spending their holidays, and money usually spent abroad, here.
With lockdown lifted, there is a feeling of local camaraderie buzzing in the air.
Akaroa Dolphins owner Hugh Waghorn now only takes one boat out a day. With the capacity to carry more than 50 passengers, the most they have had post-lockdown is 18.
But even the local Hector’s dolphins have been excited to see humans back.
‘‘Akaroa relies on tourists. We can only work day by day at the moment.’’
Waghorn wants the mass tourism naysayers to put their money where their mouths are.
‘‘For a long time, a lot of people have said Akaroa can’t cope with tourism and cruise ships. Now’s the time for them to come and support us.’’
The Christchurch City Council has helped support businesses by waiving wharf and footpath seating fees. And the wage subsidy also helps, he said.
‘‘It’s nice to know we are not alone.’’
The Press spoke with a few visitors from ‘‘over the hill’’ – the town’s new target market.
Christchurch resident Ling Chen visited Akaroa for the first time ‘‘for the views’’. She planned to buy lunch out, have a look around, and would ‘‘definitely come again’’.
Her friend Chris Gu last came in February, when the town was so busy he could not find a park.
‘‘It’s very quiet [now], few people, and many things closed.’’
Monique and Ronald Uitdewilligen came from Dunsandel for the day to celebrate Ronald’s birthday.
Why? A sweep with his hand towards the shimmering harbour is all the reply needed. ‘‘It’s a bit different from the plains. We love the water.’’ They would also buy lunch, and maybe a gift.
Pot Pourri gift shop owner Georgie Rhodes found it ‘‘encouraging’’ that opening weekend was busy with Cantabrians breaking free of the lockdown and heading to their baches.
‘‘We’re just hoping that Akaroa is going to become a big destination for New Zealanders seeing their backyard.’’
Airbnb bach owner and local Amy Stronach had bookings coming in as soon as lockdown lifted. She lifted a ban on pets, to make it easier for Kiwis to get away.
Akaroa i-SITE manager Doreen Machnick said June will give a better idea of how far the support goes.
‘‘Akaroa relies on tourists. We can only work day by day at the moment.’’ Hugh Waghorn