Conclusions
This study reports on a limited duration survey of visitors to the lower Waitaki valley and is thus limited in its capacity to reflect variations in seasonality and market variation. Nevertheless, it was undertaken during a significant holiday period and, with substantial samples having been collected, provides an accurate portrayal of visitor perceptions, attitudes and behaviour for the survey period. Two separate samples were contacted, one of travellers through the area and one of people occupying overnight accommodation of varying kinds.
In the event, it is clear that the two populations are quite different. The travelling sample was made up primarily of overseas visitors, coming mainly from Australia, England and northwest Europe. New Zealanders in this sample came from the North Island and Otago and Southland in the main. The sample of holidaymakers staying in the area was dominated by people resident in Christchurch and the Canterbury region; there were few overseas visitors and few from the North Island. Although detailed demographic data were not collected, observation suggests that the travelling sample tended to have a much higher proportion of younger people and fewer family groups.
Although those staying in the area tended to have visited before, most of the travellers had not. Thus, 70 percent of the travellers had never visited before, whereas 64 percent of those staying had been holidaymaking in the area for a year or more and a half had been doing so for more than five years.
The travelling sample, in the main, were travelling straight through or stopping briefly at best. Indeed, as noted, many appeared to be travelling through the area without stopping at all. Only one in eight thought that they might use the Waitaki River for recreation, no matter how briefly, whereas those in accommodation were very much focused upon it. For those in accommodation, fishing was a principal holiday motivation, along with boating, and was a principal recreational activity, together with enjoyment of the peace and quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The Waitaki River itself was an important focus for recreational activity, although some use was also made of the nearby hydro lakes and tributary streams.
Given the much greater engagement with the Waitaki on the part of the resident holidaymakers, it is perhaps not surprising that scenic evaluations differ. While the resident sample saw the overall scenery in slightly more favourable terms, their assessment of it comparatively was considerably stronger than that of the travelling sample, while their assessment of the river's role was very much stronger and four times as many saw it as the most outstanding feature of the valley. Similarly, resident holidaymakers saw the river's specific character as a stronger contributor to the landscape than did the travellers.
In sum, there is a significant through flow of overseas visitors, especially, who travel through the area from Mount Cook to the east coast and vice versa in broadly equal proportions. Few stay in the area as such, although many stay in the vicinity of the hydro and glacial lakes for at least a time. This population makes little use of the facilities and resources of the area at present, save to visit cafes and visitor centres in passing, or to stop briefly at the Maori rock drawings or at one of the Vanished World fossil sites. They view the scenery as pleasant, but have relatively little awareness of the Waitaki River in the area of the valley. At present, their contribution to the regional economy is slight, apart from casual consumption of snacks and perhaps the purchase of fuel or other routine supplies, they seem unlikely to spend much. Nevertheless, they represent a huge potential and it is clear that further developments, such as the wine tourism alluded to in the earlier report, have a ready-made market to draw upon.
The population of holidaymakers staying within the area is quite different, as noted above. Those who stay in the fishing settlements at the mouth of the river are clearly oriented towards fishing, notably the salmon run, although the facilities are also used for Christmas holidays. Those staying in the Duntroon and Kurow area are equally oriented towards the river and the fishing and boating opportunities it offers. Their evaluations of the scenic environment are very positive and the role of the river itself is central to these. Although their favourite pursuits could be undertaken at a variety of venues throughout the broader region, most tend to favour the river or at least to use it for half of the time, so that it is a hugely significant holiday resource. Without it, the domestic holiday industry would be severely affected.
In the absence of specific development proposals or information about associated works, it is not possible to assess the likely impact of development upon tourist activity and behaviour, but it is clear that the travelling population sees the lower Waitaki as scenically attractive and a pleasant rural environment through which to travel. The river is much more central to the holidaymaking population staying in the area, especially the area around Kurow and on down to Duntroon. Any development proposals that impacted upon the fishing and boating experience would be significant and any that impacted upon the form and character of the river itself would have a substantial effect upon scenic evaluations. Given that the population concerned is largely made up of domestic New Zealanders, mainly from Canterbury, then it is likely that estimations of impact carried out as part of the Project Aqua investigations would have some validity in determining the likely response of this group.
