Letters to the editor: Events organisers 'despairing', carrying huge financial risk

Contestants in the Tough Guy and Gal event held in Rotorua in 2019. This year's event was cancelled due to Covid alert levels. Photo / Ben Fraser

In all the conversations about industries endangered by Covid, especially tourism and hospitality, one seems to be missing.

Commercial event organisers with financial skin in the game are facing serial postponements and even cancellation, very much aggravated by Auckland's lockdowns.

I've worked on walking, running and bike events in Rotorua as a volunteer, organiser and promoter for 20 years and seen how hard people work.

I've 'owned' a few events in the past and the ice-cold breath of possible financial loss kept me awake at nights. Luckily, they were never my sole source of income.

I can't imagine what some of those organisers I know around Aotearoa are experiencing, particularly in Auckland. Actually, I do know one up there who's despairing.

They are some of the most innovative, resourceful and adaptable people I've ever met. Classic small businesses. However, Covid adds a whole new level of jeopardy.

Local Rotorua organisers run events across the year bringing thousands of people and millions of dollars into the city while juggling expensive overheads and stringent health and safety regulations - and all at their own financial risk.

Those visiting competitors bolster hospitality and tourism. And when events do well the subsequent well-deserved profit all flows back into our local community; rates, mortgages, groceries and other services.

Let's hope for a healthier 2022 when all our events can crack on.

Graeme Simpson
Rotorua

Poverty-free utopia a pipe dream

Squillionaire Elon Musk's offer of $6 billion to solve the problem of famine worldwide appears to be as tongue-in-cheek as it is impossible.

While such realised generosity would help today, tomorrow the need will be greater.

Much of this poverty is blamed on climate change and droughts. Wars displace many people as well.

The pipe dream of a utopia where all are equal, sharing, loving and being kind is just that, a pipe dream.

The COP 26 talks in Glasgow are futile in that they are really just talks - and there's always plenty of that.

It is impossible to hold back this tide, and legend tells us that King Canute tried that and failed. But then we're slow to learn, aren't we?

The Bible guarantees that 'while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer and day and night, shall not cease.' Gen 8:22. Note that first phrase.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

Tourists and homeless different

Regarding council comments in the article: City campaigners gaining support (News, November 3): In terms of the Boulevard Motel, the council said it was "determined that the effects of people staying in the accommodation as visitors and people staying in the motel for residential purposes would be relatively similar".

Full-time residents use the facilities a lot more than visitors do, putting more pressure on the infrastructure system. Visitors would check-in at 2pm and leave by 10am. Some may go out to dinner, or visit tourist attractions during the day. There are also times that motel rooms are vacant.

Residents, however, stay full-time, often in full 100 per cent occupancy, using showers, WCs, kitchens and laundry facilities at a higher rate than visitors.

Domestic tourists are a different demographic to homeless people, some of whom have gang affiliations, bringing all the associated problems and crime. How can the effect be similar?

Congratulations to Restore Rotorua Inc on obtaining an independent commissioner hearing in February or March 2022 on the motels being converted to full-time residency.

One can only hope the residents wanting to voice their opinion on the detrimental effects will be given a fair hearing.

Tracey McLeod
Lake Tarawera

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