Pages 2-3 1 GOOD AS GODZone illions of people around the around New Zealand and the world, “The incredible M world marvelled at Southland’s commenting on the awesome breathtaking natural scenery and scenery, he said. people’s spirit of generosity during imagery of the the GODZone adventure race. The successful hosting of an event the size of GODZone showed wider Fiordland area The gruelling 10-day race started what Te Anau and the District was in Te Anau on 1 March with about capable of and put it in good stead and the amazing 370 competitors taking on the to host future events of a similar Southland hospitality 500km course running through the scale, Cr Kremer said. Fiordland National Park and other parts of southwest Southland. “The town was buzzing; the town on the course was was full.” Southland District Council Mararoa showcased around Waimea councillor Ebel Kremer Te Anau Community Board chair said the impact the event had on Rachel Cockburn said the event’s the world through Te Anau and many communities huge success generated many in southwest Southland was way inspiring stories from athletes social media.” beyond expectation. and supporters. - Rachel Cockburn While the race started and finished Te Anau was very proud to help in Te Anau, to see farmers in the host the event, which generated Destination Fiordland regional Lillburn Valley putting on barbecues massive national and international tourism manager Sharon Salmons and accommodating teams in interest – the GODZone website woolsheds was a true expression of said: “It has showcased to the world alone registered 2.1 million hits the that Fiordland has so much more the amazing community spirit in the night the first teams came home, District, he said. to offer than just the well-known she said. Milford Sound and that Te Anau “The community really got behind it The experiences competitors and or Manapouri is a great base if you and got involved in it.” their supporters had while in Te are looking for an adventure off the The international exposure the Anau and Fiordland will be shared beaten tourist track. Many teams have event attracted was phenomenal with many other people and been heard saying they will definitely with many people at the event, encourage return visits and positive be back to explore some more, which and many more watching from word of mouth for the area. is great news for our members.” 2 Te Anau-based team Countdown to the Ranch crossing the finish line after completing the GODZone race. - Rachel Cockburn Cover art Magazine design Produced by Alex Socci/GODZone Chapter 7 Gloria Eno Southland District Council communications team 3 MAYOR GARY TONG e’re living in exciting and challenging times, and who knows what the future will bring? WWe reckon we have some idea – thanks in no small part to what you’ve been telling us during the past year or so. Change is constant, but the rate of change in modern life can be staggering, and even a bit dizzying at times. We’re feeding what we’ve learned into our Ten Year Plan, which gives us an opportunity to look at the services and activities we will provide in the future. In the past month our consultation document, ‘We’re just getting started, Southland’, has been out for your feedback. I hope you had a look, and let us know whether you agree with the direction we’re proposing. Southland’s communities and their needs are changing: our population is ageing, in some places it is declining or staying static, and disposable incomes are getting smaller. In the meantime, costs keep increasing. Looking back 30 years we can see how much settlement patterns, population, demographics, socio-economic conditions and visitor trends have changed – and we need to use all the information we can get to try to predict where we will be in another 30 years. Weather patterns are changing too. The drought experienced during summer was a timely reminder of the need to plan and prepare $126,000 and would involve minor road construction work and our District for greater potential extremes the installation of structures including an emergency shelter, more of weather. Here in Southland we have been toilets and additional directional and safety signage. fortunate to have missed much of the cyclone- strength weather areas like the West Coast, Decisions around funding the future costs of the trail need to be Nelson and Taranaki have experienced, but made as well. there’s no room for complacency. Preparing for our future means our communities are better placed There’s some meaty stuff in the document for whatever comes our way. The value that lies in that shouldn’t around more targeted funding for key services be underestimated. such as roading, libraries, waste and water, and we’ve identified three key issues in addition to This is why we are proposing to invest more in planning for the the nuts and bolts stuff that councils provide. future of the District. Our ability to enjoy the great outdoors Some people might ask: shouldn’t we be thinking about the here and opportunities Southland offers is considered in now – rather than focusing on the future? the draft Long Term Plan. It’s a fair question – and the answer is that we are equally focused A co-ordinated District-wide plan to improve on the here and now through our many services and asset our open spaces is proposed and fits neatly management plans. The future focus is simply a recognition that with our mission to make Southland an even the things we know and hold to be true are changing rapidly – and more desirable place to live, work and play. we want to be prepared. There are some other, not entirely unrelated, We are going to face some hard decisions to ensure the District’s issues we need to get sorted. We want to dollars are spent wisely. put the finishing touches on the Around the We need to settle on the things we should do differently, what we Mountains Cycle Trail. need to do more of, and what we will have to stop doing. We are proposing to bring the existing Hard decisions can be daunting but there’s simply no room to section of trail to a point at Centre Hill Road just plod along: that is no legacy to leave for future generations using existing roads. This work would cost of Southlanders. 4 Councillor Ebel Kremer and I met with Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis Dear on his visit to the deep south earlier this year to chat about tourism opportunities Diary and challenges in our District. There’s an open invitation for the Excerpts from Mayor Gary Tong’s minister to visit any busy schedule … time and with the south home to so many tourism jewels, no doubt he’ll be back sooner rather Yes, minister! than later. I marked Waitangi Day this year at Te Rau Aroha marae in Bluff, where the annual Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival was hosted by Te Rūnanga o Awarua. What an incredible event. It was a great way to connect with the wider community who make up the fabric of the Southland District. You can’t beat prime real estate. Te Anau’s wapiti statue was moved from its spot greeting visitors driving into the town, to a new patch right in the thick of things outside the Fiordland Events Centre. The statue was erected back in 2005 to mark 100 years since wapiti were first introduced into Fiordland as a gift from US President Theodore Roosevelt. I joined the Fiordland I had the honour of blowing the hooter for the Wapiti Foundation’s unveiling start of the Godzone race in Te Anau. Maybe next of the statue in its new home time I’ll put my hand up to compete against the – which by the sounds of things great Richie McCaw! What a fantastic community- has already proved a hit with run event and I take my hat off to everybody visitors to Te Anau. involved in its organisation – as well as those brave souls who entered. My green thumb hasn’t I visited Guangdong, the most been put to much use populous province in China. My lately but it was trip was sponsored by the Chao fantastic to see Shan General Association of New dedication pay off Zealand – a group set up to for the prizewinners promote tourism, trade and other at a ceremony I benefits between the province officiated for the and our country. I gave several Otautau Flower presentations on Southland to and Quilting Club. government representatives and Everybody involved it was a great opportunity to really put their foster a relationship with one heart and soul into of New Zealand’s major trading tending to their partners. I also had a half day specimens, from of downtime: visiting the Great dahlias to cabbages. Brand ambassador Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing was pretty mindblowing. 5 CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEVE RURU he submission period Affordability will always be a tough one of the tourism jewels in for our draft Long Term challenge we grapple with. Will we our District’s crown. Plan has closed but the be able to provide all the current title of the consultation services we provide in the future if Meanwhile, on Stewart document remains there are fewer working residents in Island Rakiura, Council’s valid: we’re just getting our District to help share the cost? community leadership started, Southland. The answer to that could well be no.