Tourism and the West Coast – how and what to save

Tourism and the West Coast – how and what to save
Franz Josef glacier – shrinking along with West Coast tourist dollars.
Pattrick Smellie
From a line roughly at Hokitika and to the north, the West Coast appears to be holding its own in the covid-affected economy.There are no international tourists, but a steady stream of Kiwi travellers are accessing the northern part of the region in sufficient numbers to keep things ticking over.Backpacker hostels may be empty, but data prepared for Development West Coast by Infometrics shows the Buller district actually saw 4.6% higher tourist spending in December 2020 than the same month a year earlier.While tourist spending in the Grey distr...

More Opinion

Cleantech: Burst bubble or our biggest opportunity?
Opinion

Peter Griffin: Cleantech: Burst bubble or our biggest opportunity?

A thriving cleantech sector could be NZ’s ticket to a sustainable, high-value economy.

Peter Griffin 02 Jul 2025
Why luxury needs a wake-up call
Opinion Fashion

Eden Bradfield: Why luxury needs a wake-up call

The focus should be on selling consumers a lifestyle, not just status symbols. 

Eden Bradfield 01 Jul 2025
Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers
Opinion

Maria Slade: Facebook is no place for risky financial investment offers

Misleading ads continue to be thrust in the faces of Mum and Dad investors.

Maria Slade 30 Jun 2025