Spending soars in Taupō over the summer holidays

Taupō retailers received a welcome boost over the Christmas holiday period with retail spending data revealing an 11.2 per cent increase on last year’s figures.

Data shows spending in the Taupō district peaked at

$17.5 million in the week ending January 3, and was also up 5.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2021 for the week ending January 10.

Spending in the district steadily rose throughout December from around

$10 million per week during November to hit January’s $17.5 million high.

The number of people visiting the Taupō town centre during the holidays peaked at more than 31,000 on Thursday, December 30, with many of those visitors coming from Aucklanders keen to experience some freedom after a wearying four-month lockdown.

Taupō mayor David Trewavas said it was great to see the district humming over the holiday period.

Trewavas said he was thankful to locals for warmly welcoming visitors especially during the middle of the largest infrastructure project being undertaken in the district.

‘‘We know that our Taupō town centre transformation project meant that some people found it slower than usual to get around town and they needed to be patient while visitors navigated their way through some of our newly completed works.’’

Taupō district’s economic development agency Amplify and regional tourism organisation Destination Great Lake Taupō both reported that hospitality, tourism and retail in Taupō and Turangi had a good January with increased numbers and high average spending since Taupō moved to orange under the Covid19 traffic light system on December 31. However, their golden summer could get a bit cloudy after the country moved back into the red setting this week and the recent postponement of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge.

Replete Cafe owner and vicechairman of Towncentre Taupō Chris Johnston said the move back into red would affect business confidence, as well as the plans of those thinking of visiting the region.

He said events such as the cycle challenge and Taupō Ironman were huge for the district and their loss would put a dent in the recent upturn.

Johnston said the great weather meant many people stayed away from cafes to enjoy other activities but he also saw a noticeable increase in foot and vehicle traffic in the town centre.

‘‘Taupō has always relied on around 60 to 70 per cent domestic visitors so we are more fortunate than places like Rotorua and Queenstown in that respect.

‘‘Obviously we’re pleased with the good summer but the tail end used to last a lot longer and it has been a bit flat again this week.’’

Co-owner of Spacecraft, in Te Heu Heu St, Sue Shaw said that after a quieter than expected

December, the holiday period had been busy. ‘‘We saw a huge influx in January and there have been a lot more visitors in town. It is been busier than last year’’.

While visitor numbers dipped after people returned to work on Monday, January 10, they were expected to rise again over the Wellington and Auckland anniversary weekends, as well as over Waitangi weekend.