Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones gave a special acknowledgement to the architects and advocates of the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Development Strategy in announcing a $10 million loan to Ruapehu Alpine Lifts (RAL) Ltd toward the construction of a $25m high-speed gondola on the Whakapapa ski field from government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF).

Ruapehu District Council is supporting the project with $500,000 loan along with $1m from Taupo District Council and additional financial support from Ngati Tuwharetoa and other investors.

The financial commitment from local government and Iwi to the project was a critical element in gaining central government’s $10m investment in the project.

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that while Ruapehu’s financial contribution may be considered small in the scale of things like the other co-investment money we have received for tourism infrastructure it was very important for government to see that there was a local share contribution.

“Just as significant to gaining government investment was that regional councils and iwi are united and working cooperatively in support of the project,” said Mayor Cameron.

“Council thought about long and hard about whether to make this loan to RAL but it got across the line because it was seen as transformational toward our goal of growing regional visitor expenditure to $400m by 2028.

The gondola is expected to initially attract an additional 300,000 visitors to Mt Ruapehu growing to 500,000, 137 full-time jobs and an additional $50m per annum in visitor expenditure that will ripple through our whole economy.

The investment has a solid business case behind it that was developed with the involvement of industry experts and leader tourism organisations including Auckland Airport, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, KiwiRail, Air NZ and others.

Ultimately the investment was made because of the impact it would make to the whole of district. This is part of a bigger strategy of supporting the growth of the region and the district.”

Mayor Cameron noted that the Minister’s announcement brings together three years of hard work by Council together with central government, Iwi, regional partners and industry leaders on developing the Ruapehu Regional Visitor Development Plan.

“The Regional Visitor Development Plan provides a clear cluster of tourism sector opportunities including a number of iconic visitor experience investment opportunities of which the gondola project was one.

“It gives us a practical ‘road map’ for how regional tourism can boost prosperity through growing jobs, incomes and opportunities and accelerate social and economic growth,” he said.

Ruapehu District Council’s role as the lead agency for developing regional tourism opportunities as part of the Accelerate25 programme was acknowledged by both the Minister and Michael McCartney, Accelerate25 Lead Team Facilitator and Horizons Chief Executive.

“Mayor Don you are absolutely correct to say that it took an act of solidarity and your efforts need to be emulated in other parts of Aotearoa,” said Minister Jones.

Mr McCartney added that Ruapehu is a small council in the NZ scheme of things and that the level of energy and dedication that they have put in to achieve some significant outcomes is quite remarkable.

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