Queenstown Challenges & Resilience
I am excited to begin the post of Otago Southland Regional Councillor on July 1! It is an amazing opportunity to represent the region, and to become more immersed in LIANZA life.
As you may have seen, I am Wakatipu Libraries Team Leader at Queenstown Lakes District Council; managing a brilliant team of librarians encompassing Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy and Kingston. Queenstown Lakes District is such a vibrant, innovative place. I came here in 2015 as a backpacker, and absolutely loved the wild landscapes and breathtaking beauty. As a small town person, the size of Queenstown suits me perfectly, and the flow of visitors from all over the world made it glitter even brighter. Working in Queenstown Library meant serving a diverse community – tourists and residents alike. This, coupled with the rapid expansion of the district, was an opportunity in itself; all a balancing act to ensure equal, relevant and smiling library service to all. Understandably, Queenstown has taken rather a knock, and the ongoing fall out of COVID-19 is not yet known. Needless to say, it is an incredibly challenging time for the community here. As librarians, we have always sought to help people; however, this may have morphed slightly in terms of what help is needed. We are working hard to support those in need, and to point them toward the relevant services. Whilst it is a tricky time, I am sure the resilience of the people will prevail; we are a community that always stands up for those in hardship. And I am proud to be part of a council offering such kindness and care.
I look forward to connecting with more libraries in the coming months – and hope that domestic tourism will see a few more folk in my neck of the woods soon.