23 June 2017
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Tarawera Ultra funding
Inquiry
Just a few questions following the Tarawera Ultra announcement from Todd McClay.
- Are council pleased with the additional $300,000 of funding?
- How would they like to see this spent?
- Do you think Rotorua is becoming more of a hub for these adventure activities, with us also having Crankworx, and if so where would you like to see that go?
- Are you pleased with the direction Rotorua is headed in?
Response
From Deputy Mayor and Economic Development Portfolio lead Dave Donaldson:
It's great to see events that showcase our district's natural active environment receiving a boost and shows confidence in Rotorua as an events destination.
Rotorua has become a destination for trail running and the Tarawera Ultramarathon and associated events are now considered a must-do on the international ultra-running calendar. As has happened with mountainbiking, we're now seeing trail runners moving to Rotorua, along with related businesses around these events and the running industry.
The Tarawera ultra event highlights what's good about Rotorua - our forests and lakes and the history and stories which have become part of it and are a major attraction for entrants. Hundreds of internationals take part and take their experience of Rotorua back home with them.
Outdoor type events have become additional attractors in Rotorua, for locals and for visitors, adding to our existing offering and providing economic benefits through visitor spending and employment.
But we couldn't do it without community support, especially the support of volunteers. It's important to acknowledge that, particularly as this is National Volunteer Week. Our many amazing volunteers make a huge contribution to providing a great experience.
A voluntary group worth mentioning in the ultra running context is our Rotorua Trails Trust which was set up to manage running, mountainbiking and horse riding trails in our forests and surrounds. This is another important aspect of ensuring events like this continue to be attractive, continue to provide a great experience and are able to keep evolving and growing.
