Karamea district stalling into regression

Karamea district stalling into regression
Evidence of stagnation versus rest of NZ

By Bob Radley

As a former resident of Karamea I have been witness to a failure of the district to lock on with the rest of New Zealand in building on its potential and enterprise. Whilst the rest of the country has toughed it out through the recent recessionary period, and in fact in many sectors having moved into recovery mode, Karamea has continued to regress.

This stasis is convincingly confirmed by the forest of for sale signs and numbers of recent business failures and closures. Even the premier tourist hotel, The Last Resort, has been given oxygen with West Coast Development staking its survival. Several motor workshops, and a few years back, the petrol station have succumbed. Supply of motor fuel is now hosted by the local Information Centre.

Tourism is a long way short of its potential in the area despite offers of professional help and planning by myself and others. It is sad that the millions funded to the Oparara Trust have dissipated mainly on capital works and labour without adding effective marketing of the project. This still has potential to become a major tourism visitor winner.

The uniqueness and remoteness of Karamea could be capitalized on, in the same way as could be compared with Southland’s isolated Catlins, but this is not occurring. The district now lags behind most of the rest of New Zealand in growth across an enterprise spectrum. Along with the dairying boom, Karamea's farmers are doing fine, but the districts numerous other opportunities are in a retard state.

It has been so sad over recent years to see negativity within the district dampen and snuff out existing enterprises in action. Even worse have been failures of efforts towards new enterprise.

Sadly, a number of efforts by experienced promoters have been discouraged and shunned by local power brokers. It is apparent that local negativity has arisen from lack of imagination, isolationism, and even misguided eco evangelists. The quashing of enterprise lies in the hands of only a few people whilst most locals have displayed considerable apathy.

Whilst the region is wallowing with its greater potential neglected it is hard to fathom local dreams to create a multi million dollar Community and Sports Centre. Surely there is a greater a need to broaden the district economy first.

Should Karamea’s detractors and nay Sayers back off and allow some vibrancy the district has vast potential. Tourism has vast untapped potential in the magnificent surrounding wilderness, as have the kilometres deserted lovely sandy beaches and lagoons. The Oparara with its world class caves and walkways, fishing seas and rivers, mountain biking, trekking, land yachting potential on the beaches, farm tourism, kayaking are just a do-able attractions. The district’s microclimate is also appealing.

The mountains of the Mt. Radiant ranges and other perimeters have a unique variety in mineral riches, and even the beaches are underlain with gold.

Possibly a sole positive point is that Karamea is in effect future banking itself for others to reap its rewards at a later date. This can occur naturally when the districts under developed assets bare themselves compared with how the rest of New Zealand is forging ahead.

Maybe some progressive Karamea locals need to form an alliance with progressive external agencies to address the Karamea problem.

Bob Radley has a PhD in marketing and a background including former chair of South Island Promotions Tourism Committee. He has operated inbound tourism and a number of tourism facilities.

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