Ngai Tahu Tourism shut-down adds to Rotorua woe

Photo: Getty Images.

A Rotorua tourism identity says the town is suffering from the collapse of tourism because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will recover.

Yesterday Ngāi Tahu Tourism announced it was putting its 14 businesses into hibernation, including not only South Island attractions like Shotover Jet and Franz Josef Glacier Guides but Agrodome and Rainbow Springs in Rotorua,

Trevor Maxwell says that comes on top of the shuttering of businesses like Mitai and Tāmaki Māori villages and Te Puia New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, which has stood down 85 staff.

"Tourism is hurting but if we all stand together, do what is being asked of us through this COVID-19, whatever Jacinderella wants us to do we are doing at the moment and I hope when we do get through this our tourism products can pick up again and do the good mahi they do but my heart goes out to them," he says.

Mr Maxwell says it’s likely another of the region’s main industries, forestry, can come back faster because it doesn’t need close contact with its customers.

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