It’s Coast Time!

Isn’t it funny? Here on the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua, we know that once the Pohutukawa flowers break with their beautiful rich red colours it’s Coast Time.

But what is Coast Time?

We think it’s that time of year when the sea is warm, the Tararua's are clear of snow and the tiny flowers on the hills open and invite the insects for a party.

We think it’s that time of the week when you leave the office, after spending the week staring at a screen full of useless information, on a journey to the coast where the priority is getting the shoes off, grabbing a good coffee and finding a nice spot to take a moment and consider all the important things.

We think Coast Time is that time of the year when all the aunties and uncles arrive in town, bring with them the kai, the politics and smiles that we have looked forward to all year.

We think Coast Time is that time of the year where there is something wonderful to do every weekend and the markets are bulging with the freshest in local produce.


We think Coast Time is awesome

So go on, challenge yourself this summer and do something different – experience what it is that makes the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua simply awesome in the summer.

What is Coast Time to you?

Catch the wave this summer

Nature Coast Enterprise, the regional tourism organisation for the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua is today reminding locals of a couple of initiatives that are sure to make this summer on the Nature Coast long and hot.

Catch Kapiti, the Kapiti Coast districts summer events programme, is once again set to tell us about all the great things to do on the coast this summer.

Nature Coast Enterprise regional tourism manager Chris Barber said: “Catch Kapiti is a great way to promote local events and it’s free. We will be distributing more than 25,000 copies of the programme this year but the programme is only as good and the events it promotes, so we need to know about all the wonderful events that are planned for this summer”

The Catch Kapiti Summer Events programme includes events on the Kapiti Coast that occur during the period between Christmas and the end of daylight savings. The programme is set to be delivered to all households in the Kapiti Coast District on 17th December.

Another initiative that has proven successful in bringing visitors to the region is the Nature Coast Project. Last year more than 60 businesses participated in a joint venture with Nature Coast Enterprise to encourage more visitors from Wellington.

“The results speak for themselves” Chris Barber said. “In the context of a recession, our region performed very well last summer and that was as a result of the Nature Coast Project. We worked together and the results came. Events in the region were well attended, retailers and cafes noted a marked increase in the number of Wellingtonians choosing to holiday on the Nature Coast and the number of guest nights in the region was well above the national average.

This year the focus of the project is once again to bring more Wellingtonians to the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua, but this year we want to extend our traditional summer season into the March and April period” he said. “We think the campaign planned for this year will do just that”.

The launch of this years Nature Coast Project will be on Wednesday November 4th at 5pm at the Nature Coast Enterprise office, Lindale.

People wishing to have their event considered for inclusion within Catch Kapiti, or those that would like to attend the launch of the 2009/10 Nature Coast Project should contact Nature Coast Enterprise by emailing maureen@naturecoast.co.nz, in person at any of the i-sites , at the Nature Coast Enterprise offices in Levin and Paraparaumu, or by phone on 04 298 6611

For more information, contact Chris Barber. 04 298 6611 or 027 685 5532

New Airport Development “outstanding news” for the region

PHOTO CAPTION: (from left) Celebrations all round from Chris Barber, Regional Tourism Manager, Nature Coast; Anthony Wackrow, Paraparaumu Airport Manager; Kellie Brown, Communications & Events, Nature Coast; Glen O’Brien, Chief Executive, Nature Coast.

By the end of 2010 locals may see more than air2there planes and birds fly across their skies.
A $450 million redevelopment of Paraparaumu Airport has been given the green light, thanks to a recent Environment Court decision.

The development aims to see Air NZ services and a business park added to Kapiti’s feature list.
Airport Manager Anthony Wackrow says he’s very pleased with decision. “It’s great news for the airport, and great news for the wider community.”

Nature Coast Tourism Chief Executive Glen O’Brien says this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “It’s going to be a fantastic catalyst for growth and development in the region.” Mr O’Brien sites employment and tourism as two major areas for growth. “In terms of population we are up there with the fastest growing regions in New Zealand. Kapiti is going to be even more of a magnet now, not just for tourism, but for people to live here too.”

Chris Barber, Nature Coast’s Regional Tourism Manager, says it’s going to be an airport with a pretty impressive view. “How many airports in New Zealand are going to have an outlook like Kapiti? We’ve been waiting for this outcome for a long time. We’ve done the background – the tourism community have been working really hard together to make this region an amazing place for visitors. This news is a well deserved great reward for them.”

Mr Barber also says the airport redevelopment has the potential to attract many more international tourists to our region. He says that over the winter, Air New Zealand offered Australian travellers to New Zealand a free domestic return ticket within New Zealand. “If they retain that wonderful incentive in the coming months,” says Mr Barber, “Australians will have direct access to this region. How cool is that.”

Plans for the airport include extending the main runway, shifting and shortening the east-west runway, and creating an industrial park on the 127 hectare site.

“I’m travelling every few weeks and I spend hours getting to Wellington airport,” says Mr O’Brien. “And the parking fees add up. The new airport is going to be a big advantage to business.”

The next stage is to work towards establishing Air NZ services, tentatively planned for the end of 2010. Q300 planes, seating 50 passengers, will run alongside existing air2there services.

For further information, contact Glen O’Brien, Nature Coast CEO, 027 279 4900 glen@naturecoast.co.nz

This summer is set to be awesome once again

It’s getting warmer out there now, the days are longer and birds are louder. This summer is set to be awesome once again. We can all remember summer fun. For me - we used to hang out at Waikanae Beach and wait for all the townies to come up to their Bach’s for Christmas. Every year there would be at least one where the parents had let the kids use the Bach without them. For us at Waikanae beach that meant it was party time. I can still hear Rage Against The Machine blasting out across the tennis courts. I wonder if the guys from the Waikanae Fire Station remember that music as they were putting out our very small fires on the beach, often with buckets!

Anyway, we need the world to know why this place is awesome. We don’t have heaps of $$ to spend on big TV ads etc, but what we do have is you guys.Tell the world – we are and we would love it if you would help

And if you have been away for a while, this is what some of the locals have been up
too:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCUcxcSfNbE kia kaha!

Kapiti Island Scenic Flight

Air2there – Kapiti Island Scenic Flight 08.08.09


On Saturday I had the opportunity to step onto a plane with air2there and experience Kapiti Island from an aerial perspective on air2there’s Kapiti Island scenic flight tour. The tour included an introductory talk on the island which includes the history and how it came to be the amazing protected island it is today.
The tour gives you a real feel for Kapiti Island and is a great alternative for those who are unable to get to the island for the day when visiting the region. I would also highly recommend it to locals as it is a great way to see your own backyard.

Daily tours 11am, 1pm 3pm – Booking is recommended.
Cost per person: $105 - Group concessions available.
Tours are conducted with a minimum of three persons.

Sam