Removing visitor levy a bad call
Taking a visitor levy off the table is short sighted and may leave local authorities with no alternative but to raise rates, says Regional Tourism New Zealand (RTNZ).
RTNZ executive officer Charlie Ives said his association was surprised that the recommendation for a visitor levy had been removed from the Productivity Commission’s final report to Government, as it had been a strong recommendation in the draft version.
“Not considering some sort of visitor levy as a funding option for local government to both manage the impacts of tourism and also develop tourism as a positive contributor to the vitality of communities in the regions demonstrates a remarkably short-sighted view,” said Charlie.
“Without the option of imposing a userpays system this decision will perpetuate a situation where local councils, stretched for funds, will have to pay for most of the associated costs of providing for tourism.
“Not being able to recoup expenditure from those visitors will put financial strain on communities.”
He said instead, Councils would be forced to raise money through the only lever they had, being further rating of businesses and residents.
“There was further significant concern that Councils might choose to introduce a target rate on obvious tourism businesses, such as hotels,” said Charlie.
“We are disappointed that after months of discussion and submissions the Commission has backtracked on the levy, but RTNZ will continue to advocate for the introduction of a fair user pays system.”
The Waikato Tramping Club turns 70 next year and to celebrate they will be holding a reunion in May.
The celebrations will include a formal dinner, a tramp to Wairere Falls to reenact the club’s first tramp and a gathering at the Waikato Hut on Mt Ruapehu, which was built by volunteers in 1956 and then extended in 1975.
It will take place on May 16 and 17 and all current and past members are invited to attend.
Over its 70 years of existence, the club and its members have completed over 2850 trips and favourite places around the Waikato include the Kaimai Range, the Coromandel forest parks, Pirongia, Karioi and Waitomo.
Trips further afield see them go to Kaimanawa, Kaweka forest parks, Tongariro
National Park, Te Urewera and in the summer, there also trips to the South Island.
Waikato Tramping Club representative David White says the club thrives and currently has 280 members who all take part in weekly trips, social activities, conservation work, training courses, including bush craft and snow craft courses, and skiing.
“The club continues to promote what it has always done; enjoy the outdoors.
“The backcountry is much more accessible than it used to be and there are better tracks and more information about places to visit,” said David.
■ For more information about the reunion celebration contact Diane and Selwyn June, ph (07) 843 3066 or email waikatotrampingclub@gmail.com