Coromandel ‘open for business’, but fears if region will fully recover

With several weeks of summer wiped away by a barrage of weather events, those in Coromandel say their region is “open for business” and the time to visit is now.

The economic blow to the Hauraki and Coromandel tourism sector had been brutal with multiple storms including Cyclone Gabrielle inflicting widespread damage and road closures, halting visitors.

The result was a 30% drop in visitor spending during what should have been the busiest time of year.

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The district, including local council and businesses were now pleading for holiday-makers to return.

Rebekah Driscoll and husband Andrew have owned Whitianga’s Stoked Restaurant and Bar for seven years.

But they have never faced a summer where “people had just been reluctant to come to the peninsula”.

“We want people to come back…it would be a huge relief just to get the buzz back around Whitianga,” she said.

“We’re all open for business…the cyclone has really affected all local businesses, retail is suffering…normally we’d be working six days and six nights until Easter, but we’ve just reduced the hours right back because it’s just costing too much.”

Local communities had been stepping up to clear and clean-up much of the debris and mess left behind.

But Driscoll said morale had certainly taken a hit.

With the money-making season being so heavily disrupted, business owners were struggling to make their wages before the winter.

Driscoll said they wanted to see the town “filling up” and put the summer of doom behind them.

Destination Hauraki Coromandel promotes the Coromandel region as a “holiday destination” which had been extra tough this season.

General Manager, Hadley Dryden said The drop in visitor expenditure was the most compared to any other region, nationwide.

But with travel into the Coromandel now possible the sector was “ready to get back to business”.

“Everybody is really keen to see visitors return, particularly over the next couple of months,” he said.

The central issue was the regions’ roading network which had been completely compromised after Cyclone Gabrielle.

But Waka Kotahi had been working to restore access alongside remedial work being done.

Coromandel highways are open for locals, trucks and visitors, although the network is fragile and travel times will be longer than usual,” Waikato System Manager, Cara Lauder said.

But the agency has revealed the major arterial route SH25a which was out of action due to severe damage could take “around nine to 12 months” before it is fully re-opened.

In the meantime travellers were being advised to use alternative routes.

Whether businesses would be able to fully recover after being hit back to back Dryden said it was still too early to tell.

”The businesses just need cash flow to get back up on their feet and even understand whether they can survive.

”One business operator asked ‘would this be the straw that breaks the camel’s back?’”

“But really we have no choice but to dust ourselves off. The roads are open, the experiences are all open again, and we’re keen to welcome people back for a good time.”

Thames-Coromandel District Mayor, Len Salt echoed the plea from the region.

He understood the “the catastrophic effect of a major downturn in tourism”, not just from four weather events in the first six weeks of 2023, but also the impact of two years of COVID restrictions.

His message to holidaymakers was to pay them a visit.

“Take your time to enjoy the different towns and attractions along the way. Businesses will be happy to welcome you back,” said Salt.

“The roading network continues to improve as the sun shines and contractors work to minimise any delays.”