Sun shines on tourist businesses

Weather has been all that stands in the way of businesses doing well over the New Year period with several vendors reporting making a lot of money - but only when it's sunny.
Bungee McFly owner/operator George Grant says when the sun was out his trampolining business does brilliantly, so the summer holiday period had thus far served him well.
"It was great last year because we had an awesome summer," he says, referring to the sunshine. "Overall it's been better this year. Takings are up 10 per cent a day."
Mr Grant says New Year's this year was quieter. The forecast for a thunderstorm may have had something to do with the lower turnout of people.
Little Abby Devane, 6, from Morrinsville didn't seem too worried about the weather - she was just excited to be able to do back flips on the bungy trampoline.
She comes to Bungee McFly every time she visits Mount Maunganui on holiday.
Other tourism operators had similar sentiments to Mr Grant.
Tauranga Tandem Skydiving owner/operator John Martin says the Christmas and New Year period seemed to be on target this summer.
"It's been good - the weather's been good," he says.
"As long as the weather's fine we do okay."
The business cannot operate in particularly bad weather for safety reasons, and the business's target market prefers sunny weather to take in the view while they're in the air.
Mr Martin fears the predicted La Nina weather patterns may have an adverse effect on his business later in the month, but is hoping for more good weather and keeping optimistic.
At Hibiscus surfing school based on Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui, owner Rebecca Taylor says her business had not been super busy so far.
"The weather does make a huge difference," she says.
With the young family crowd coming in later January, she expects it to pick up. She also feels the recession is still imprinted on people's minds, and they are still very cautious with their money.
Coffee Kartz's Jason Bell felt the same way.
"[Takings] would be slightly less than the previous years... there's less money around," he says.