Project Description
Trust Tairāwhiti engaged TRC to provide specialist tourism advice to the Manager of the East Cape Campground in Te Araroa. The farm on which the campground is owned by 60 shareholders, predominantly from one family going back three generations and governed by the Marangairoa Committee of Management which consists of seven of the major shareholders.
The objective was to assess the potential for conversion of a woolshed on the farm into backpacker accommodation along with providing recommendations on how to optimise current operations and guide future tourism development on the farm. Recommendations by TRC were compiled following an overnight visit to the site, hosted by the farm manager.
A range of recommendations on positioning, management and resourcing were provided along with a practical staged action plan to guide governance decisions, funding applications, prioritise improvements and support whanau business potential. Guided by the plan further improvements have been made at the campground and processes in place actively manage visitors and attract them through a website and booking system that is under development.
