West Coast New Zealand

• Governance and Management of the MRI
• Regional Tourism Strategy
• Other Regional Plans
• Further Information

Targeting Tourism - Major Regional Initiative (MRI)

The MRI is based on the Region's tourism strategy and is about implementing the strategy. The MRI consists of a series of tourism development projects throughout the West Coast region.  The projects range from the development of the Oparara Walkway in the north to a Tourism Development Strategy in South Westland. 

Major icon destinations, Punakaiki and the Glaciers, have multi-staged projects aimed at managing sustainable growth.  

The projects are designed to enhance the West Coast’s national and international competitiveness as a visitor destination.

To view further information on individual projects, please follow the links below. Hard copies of any of the MRI reports are available to West Coast residents and businesses on request.

Cape Foulwind  Denniston Glacier Country Heaphy Track Moana Maori Tourism Opportunities Oparara Walkway Punakaiki Ross Goldfields Shantytown South Westland Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area Tourism Signage Review Tracks and Water Opportunities Visitor Centre Review

Governance and Management of the MRI

The “Targeting Tourism” MRI is administered by DWC and predominantly funded by Development West Coast (DWC) and NZ Trade & Enterprise along with additional funding from the Department of Conservation.

The MRI is governed by the MRI Steering Committee consisting of senior representatives of regional partners incorporating:

• Department of Conservation
• Tourism West Coast
• Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu
• Development West Coast

A Project Management Team, consisting of representatives from each of the partners and led by an independent tourism consultant as the Project Manager, drive the MRI projects and report back to the Steering Committee.

Regional Tourism Strategy

The current Regional Tourism Strategy was completed in 2005.  DWC and the MRI team are reviewing and updating this document in light of changed circumstances over the past 3 years, the MRI project inputs and outputs, and the revised NZ Tourism Strategy to 2015.

To view the New Zealand Tourism Strategy, please follow this link - http://www.nztourismstrategy.com/download.htm

Other Regional Plans

There are many planning documents that inter-relate to tourism.

• The Long Term Council Community Plans (LTCCPs) prepared by District Councils
• Conservation Management Strategies (CMS) and Conservation Management Plans (CMP) prepared by the Department of Conservation
• Visitor strategies and marketing plans that arise from the tourism sector in the region
• Other regional plans include waste strategies, land transport, digital strategy, energy, workforce development and so on.

Further Information

For further information, please contact:

Peter Walls
Development West Coast, PO Box 451, Greymouth
Email: peter@dwc.org.nz
Phone: (03) 768 0140
or
Hugh Canard
MRI Project Manager
Email: hugh.canard@paradise.net.nz
Phone: 021 406 546