Tourism may offset brewery shake-up

The finalists in the Innovate programme, which is run by BCC (Building Clever Companies) and sponsored by the Tararua District Council. Eketahuna's Brendan Lockhead, (second from left back) and Alister Ramsay, Retro Radios Dannevirke (front second from left).

News that 24 jobs at the Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka are under threat as a result of likely changes at the brewery is sad for the Tararua, district mayor Roly Ellis says.

But it's not all doom and gloom, Mr Ellis insists.

"It's a sad day when we lose any jobs in the Tararua, but the management of the brewery are trying to be as proactive as possible," he told the Dannevirke News. "Although there's talk of the down-sizing of the brewery, the positive is the upsizing of the tourism angle and that's something we're really promoting as a council."

Mr Ellis said the $5 million being spent at Mangatainoka on the seven-storey historic tower was a positive indication the company was still committed to the Tararua.

"Hopefully, tourism grows and I'm sure it will," he said.

The brewery currently attracts 40,000 visitors a year and the Tararua District Council is keen to help that number grow.

The news of a shake-up at the brewery has not impacted the super rugby pre-season game for the Hurricanes in the Tararua, Mr Ellis confirmed.

"The Hurricanes will play in early February next year at a venue still to be decided and that's really good news," he said.

Meanwhile, Blockbuster Video, an iconic Dannevirke High St business, will close its doors at the end of August after 31 years. Owner Bill Taylor said his franchise terms had come to an end and it was now time to shut the doors.

For manager Ann Shore it will be the end of an era.

She has been with the business for 15 years but has another position to go to.

Across the road, Paul and Trina Brook are ending their franchise agreement with PaperPlus but will continue to operate their business as independent retailers.

As the council works to encourage people to move to the district, Mr Ellis and two council staff will attend the Auckland Home Show in September.

"We want to really show off what the Tararua has to offer," Mr Ellis said.

"There are already a lot of people who work through the [Manawatu] gorge but live here.

"So if we can get people to live in the Tararua, they pay rates here.

"We've got to try and present ourselves as the place to come and start up a business at home. We're pushing all the buttons and we are getting inquiries from our promotion of the district at the Mystery Creek Fieldays at Hamilton, and our business hub is working hard on this."

And the numbers were adding up, said Lianne Simpkin, the council's economic development and communications manager.

"In June, we had a net gain of six people and our annual net gain from international permanent migration was 34. This is the best since 1996 and close to the all-time recorded high since the data began in 1990," she said. "On current trends, the population of the Tararua has stabilised, and if we can continue with current small net gains internationally then a small to moderate population increase is possible."

To encourage young entrepreneurs, the council is also sponsoring the Innovate programme, run by Building Clever Companies (BCC), New Zealand's specialist business development organisation for start-ups.

This year, of the 112 registrations, 12 were from the Tararua. Alister Ramsay of Retro Radios in Dannevirke and Brendan Lockhead with "the pourer" from Eketahuna are in the top 11.

Tararua population at a glance:
•Since last census in March 2013 Tararua has gained 40 people.
•In the two years prior to that Tararua lost 209 residents.