New $3.1m tourism venture for Rotorua (+video)

Rotorua MP Todd McClay cuts the ribbon at today's launch.

A new $3.1 million tourism venture in Rotorua is expected to create more than 40 local jobs.

The NZ Heritage Farm on Fairy Springs Rd will bring food, farm activities and local produce retail together for a classic Kiwi experience.

It is aimed at attracting the more than 2.7m international visitors to Rotorua each year, as well as increasing the attractiveness of the local visitor market to domestic tourists.

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Speaking at the site's official ground breaking ceremony today, local MP Todd McClay said tourism was very important to Rotorua and was one of the city's biggest earners.

"The NZ Heritage Farm is a $3.1 million investment in Rotorua's tourism sector. It is expected to create 12 jobs during the build with the use of local contractors and subcontractors and a further 35 jobs once complete. This a good example of the growth Rotorua is experiencing with more local jobs being created for local people," said Mr McClay.

"Tourism is worth half a billion dollars to the local economy each year with visitors being directly responsible for the creation of local jobs. It's great to see the sector is continuing to grow with the support of projects like these. The NZ Heritage Farm will provide for a traditional Kiwi experience and give people yet another reason to come to Rotorua."

Stage one of the project, retail tourism, will be fully operational by the end of November, followed by a 300 seat restaurant by the end of May 2015.