(We cannot apologise to anglers if this TRM Report involves local politics.  It is for all those fishy inmates and others concerned about the future tourist prospects for Turangi. Make a strong pot of tea first.)

Destination Great Lake Taupo, the marketing arm of the Taupo District Council, held their strategic Destination Management Plan meeting on Monday, 30 May, to provide the opportunity for residents to have their say on what is important to them and what they would like to see as part of the Taupo Region Destination Management Plan. This “hard copy” report was originally TRM’s (Tongariro River Motel) submission for the “hui” meeting but has since been amended for public consumption. Why? Because Council does not want to offend anyone. But as we had promised and have since been asked to report on the meeting for those unable to be there, this is TRM’s revised review. I have deliberately waited a month to cool down before posting this.

First the meeting… The host, Rowan Sapsford, introduced himself as having consulted for TDC on many issues for many years. He described the purpose of the project was to develop a strategic Destination Management Plan (called Te Ihirangi) for Taupo Destination. Te Irihangi aims to weave our cultural perspectives together…etc. Yawn… He advised he particularly wanted to hear opinions from locals and finished his brief introduction about 40 minutes later. That was when I had to leave.

Sometimes old age is such a blessing as I could not hear him. He added a slide show for old deaf geezers like me but, even when I sat at the front of the class, I could not read it. I preferred to watch the bored expressions of the crowd to his comments. You can clearly see they were hanging on every word trying to stay awake. I even watched one fall asleep.

Then each table was given a large sheet of paper to outline their shared aims on Destination Strategy. I did not trust myself to write anything suitable and had already submitted a hard copy version, so it was better to leave them at it. I had my own secret strategy – they will now have me tagged as a cranky eccentric and never invite me again.

Everyone who knows Turangi also knows it is the Trout Fishing Capital of the World. It has been branded as such for over 100 years. So why call another meeting to consider other “Destination” branding? The TRM conspiracy theorists referred me to something called “3 Waters” as an example of what this is all about. Toe-paw Council have already signed up Turangi for co-management for the future. We cant wait…

For these hearings, TRM (Tongariro River Motel) tries to represent the views of our “inmates” and other anglers who have been regularly visiting and staying in Turangi for many years. i.e. At the time of preparing this, Murray Cullen was staying for four weeks fishing. We inherited him with the motel acquisition in 2003. He has been a regular visitor to TRM, his second home, since 1998! Accordingly, even though he does not live here, he takes a close interest in Turangi as his chosen holiday destination many times over the last 25 years. Like many others, he is dismayed at the erosion of the river access and the steady deterioration of Turangi generally. TRM has many other similar tourist anglers who have made a considerable investment in Turangi over many years and deserve to be listened to, even though they do not live here permanently.

Murray is a typical TRM “inmate”, one of many who have encouraged TRM to make submissions on their behalf. During “happy hour” many of these matters are vigorously discussed, particularly on how Turangi’s future prospects need to be improved to enhance it as a “tourist destination”. These regular long-term tourist anglers have the advantage of visiting and comparing many other similar small tourist towns all over the world so we listen to them carefully. They comment from real experience on how and why some are successful and can identify the reasons some others, like Turangi, are struggling.

Turangi was designed to support a much larger population. Back in the 1970’s the “resident” population peaked at 9,000. Now the resident population is about 3,000 and steadily declining. Turangi’s future prospects as a tourist destination town are in crisis. Why? That is what they need to address…

From the houses previously occupied by residents, about one-third to half of the housing stock is now “renters” or holiday homes. These owners cannot attend such meetings and are unrepresented at previous Council hearings. TRM tries to fill this gap (but is usually ignored!) as they do deserve more consideration.

This new hui is typical of Taupo Council promoting another “talkfest”. In the past, Turangi has been reported on many times, but nothing gets done… i.e. After similar meetings in 2017 the Council commissioned the “Turangi Economic Development Strategy”. The report cost over $55,000 and included everything to arrive at the recommendations needed. Not surprisingly, the top priority, described in the report as “transformational” for the town’s future, was the completion of the T2T (Turangi to Taupo) tourist bike trail.

(Sadly, Turangi has heard it all before… Other similar reports, since disregarded and gathering dust, included a feasibility report on the T2T. The usual advantage or strength of such reports is to appoint someone independent. For this, the Council appointed their “independent” consultant. As he used to be employed by them as a planner and was Chairman of the local Taupo bike club he could hardly be remotely independent. He also contributed to the later Economic Strategy report. Now, as he is appointed as the “Host” of this hui, Turangi has every reason to be nervous and cynical about any genuine intention from Council to do something positive for Turangi as a tourist destination.)

The 2017 feasibility report advised that the T2T ticked all the boxes – the likely commercial success was a no-brainer. But the bike trail specification was for a minimum width of 2.5 metres, which blew out the estimated costs per metre higher than any other bike trail in NZ. The estimated cost of $18 million made it completely unaffordable and the report was shelved.

Another feasibility report dated August 2016 on the Turangi to Taupo trail for 46.8 km south of Waitahanui was prepared by TRC (Tourism Resource Consultants) adopting the same excessive 2.5m wide specification and estimated the cost at $15.8 million. As the cost estimates of the T2T were obviously excessive, the TRC report was also shelved.

The excessive cost estimates of the T2T should have been obvious when compared to other remote bike trails in the region, such as the Timber Trail from Pureora to Ongarue – 80 km which cost about $6 million. Similarly, the southern end of the Waikato River Trail from Mangakino to Atiamuri, 40 km following the Waikato River along the side of a state highway, cost about $3 million.

Then a year later the TDC produced their promotional brochure to DOC for the Turangi to Taupo trail which extended the length to 57km with a greatly reduced construction cost to about one third – to $6.1 Million for the reduced distance from Turangi to Bulli Point.

There is no explanation of how this huge reduction was achieved? The best guess is that the revised track dimensions were reduced (from the minimum of 2.5 m width) and the increased distance might have included the Tongariro River Trail? Then it might have received a better chance of success with DOC – as linking with an existing DOC-managed bike trail – the oldest bike trail in NZ!

Then, to keep everyone in Turangi further confused, TDC (Taupo District Council) and MBIE (Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment) assisted funding the construction of other “tourist” (?) bike trails such as at Waihaha – over 50 km beyond Taupo where tourists would rarely travel. Their tracks were far too physically demanding to qualify as “tourist bike trails”. Tourist trails have to be located closer to where tourists stay and have gentle easy-peasy gradients – like the Tongariro River Trail. This was obviously a trail designed more for the Taupo bike club members.

Meanwhile, Council continued to publicly express doubts about the T2T when they questioned how a bike trail could possibly be constructed against the steep sides of Lake Taupo between Hatepe and Motutere? The most recent bike trail completed in the South Island provides a very suitable precedent. The 55km Dunstan Trail from Cromwell to Clyde was a challenging route involving “clip-on” bridges along the sheer cliffs above Lake Dunstan. A local trust fought their Council, DOC and MBIE (who have funded most of the bike trails in NZ) for seven years with the main issue trying to estimate the likely tourist traffic needed to make it viable. They finally agreed at 9,000 tourist bikers per year would be necessary to justify the expense. The Trust built it under MBIE’s budget for $7 million and opened in May last year, heading into the “covid winter” with no tourist traffic from overseas, so the viability was going to be severely tested. By the end of October the trail counter was over 60,000. In January 2022 they counted over 10,000.

Compare that to the T2T estimates. In 2016 the Council report estimated that within 5 years over 20,000 tourists would use the trail between Turangi and Motuoapa to generate between $2.87 & $4.71 million in annual income. Those figures are well out of date now as this was before the introduction of e-bikes that have increased the demand and introduced many other tourist bikers – particularly women and older bikers who need to be considered. Proof? Taupo now reports the 10km south of Taupo achieves 20,000 users per month!

MBIE analysis confirms such biking/walking trails provide an average return of over $3.00 p.a. for every $1 invested.  For Turangi, it is just as important for any investment to provide sustainable long-term employment as a tourist trail – in addition to initial short-term jobs during construction.  Recent evidence from other trails (i.e. Hauraki Trail) confirms the growth of other localised businesses (i.e. bike hire) to support bike trails.  It would be a win-win for everyone.

Taupo could learn so much from these other successful tourist trails. Comparatively, the fact is that Taupo’s bike trails have failed to link up with tourist trails from other regions. To attract biking tourists, the Council needs to plan beyond Taupo to link with the Waikato River Trail and Rotorua trails to the north and beyond the Tongariro River Trail to the south – to link with other DOC managed tracks (such as the Tree Trunk Gorge to Pillars of Hercules tracks). Taupo Council needs to realise how important these tourist trails are to provide local employment opportunities… i.e. The Otago Rail Trail has created over 200 jobs. Taupo claims to have many bike trails but they were mainly designed for bike club members. The locations in Waihaha and Kinloch are far too remote from tourist accommodation in Taupo, and the tracks are too physical and technical and unsuitable for tourist e-bikers. They are missing a great opportunity to encourage more sustainable tourism growth.

To keep everyone in Turangi more confused, in 2018 TDC listed the T2T in their strategic plan so it appeared it was still being considered after all. The Mayor, David Trewavas, commented: “It is hoped the proposed Turangi-to-Taupō cycle trail could join the list of New Zealand’s Great Walks, Trewavas said. “It would be like the Otago Rail Trail. For all those areas down south [of Taupō], this would be a huge game-changer. However, the cycle route could not go via the narrow, winding roads at Bulli Point, he said. The trail would need to go inland, like the existing stretch of SH1 between Waitahanui and Hatepe. “There is a long-term plan to divert [SH1] from Bulli Point, but it’s quite a fair way out,” Trewavas said. “We’re advocating that the government bring that forward.” Agreements with the owners of the land the trail would pass through, which is currently forestry, would also need to be reached, he said. “It’s predominantly Maori-owned land.”

Trucks can have difficulty traversing Bulli Point, part of SH1, which was part of the reasoning behind a plan to bypass Bulli Point and have SH1 head through the forest.

We regret these comments from a well-meaning Mayor are not valid. He must have been misled by his advisors. There is no reason why the T2T could not follow SH1 wherever there were access issues. i.e. Suitable local precedents include the Tongariro River Trail south of Red Hut where the land is held in private Maori ownership (Downes family) so the link trail simply followed the edge of SH1.

Another local precedent is on SH1 north of the Taupo Airport roundabout where a bike trail follows the bypass (East Taupo Arterial shared pathway project). The local Turangi Herald (previously the Weekender newspaper) The council managed to secure $3.6 million of central government funding for providing a 2.8 metre wide concrete surface alongside SH1 at the same time as advising tourists that a similar shared footpath cannot be done north of Turangi? No wonder Turangi is disappointed… The next section to Broadlands Road is expected to be completed by September; the following leg to Centennial Drive which completes the project, will be finished by the end of the year.

We have no idea who advised them but tourists prefer to ride along the more attractive lake edge, not alongside SH1 motorway. It is not rocket science. Turangi misses out again…

At the same time the newspaper reports Taupo is thrilled that Recreation Aotearoa has recognised the 10km Taupo end of the T2T, awarded the Healthy Park Award for an outstanding natural environment. They report the pathway averages 20,000 users per month. Instead of extending it further south around the lake towards Turangi, they headed north following SH1 to Broadlands and Centennial Drive. Tourists will be thrilled.

Beyond Taupo, there are many other precedents such as the Waikato River Trail from Whakamaru to Atiamuri with the bike trail wedged in between a state highway and the Waikato River, or alongside SH5 south of Rotorua, etc. Accordingly, we regret we cannot accept their excuses. Turangi has been misled.

The completion of this T2T bike trail would increase international awareness for the entire Taupo region as a biking destination – already claiming to be the “bike hub” of the North Island.  Existing Bike Taupo trails around the northwestern side of Lake Taupo fail to link with other trails such as “Waikato River Trail” and “Mountain to Sea” trails.  As a result, Taupo misses out on major biking tourist events such as the “Tour Aotearoa” bike-packing market from Cape Reinga to Bluff.  This has been a huge success.  i.e. Every summer thousands of tourists complete the Tour Aotearoa.  None visit Taupo.  Completion of this new “Great Walk” through Turangi could bring the “Tour Aotearoa” (NZ’s 3000km bike-packing odyssey) to Taupo.   

This is not a new proposal.  Turangi have been promoting this T2T trail for the last 15 years, originally with support from Taupo MP Louise Upston and previous Mayor, Rick Cooper. i.e. It was subject to a feature article in the January 2010 issue of Wilderness Magazine.  A video prepared in 2008 featured the MP and Mayor supporting the proposal.  The Turangi Chronicle dated April 29, 2010 front page featured it.  Taupo Times, 12 February 2016 front page heading was “Taupo to Turangi bike trail reaches stage two” (?) etc. But TDC continued to ignore their advisors.

Tourism is Turangi’s biggest industry. Tourism is Turangi’s future. To enhance Turangi as a “destination”, all that is needed is more tourists.  To attract them Turangi has to encourage them with suitable sustainable tourist attractions – such as extending the existing Tongariro River Trail north and south – to compete with other tourist towns. TRM promotes our own “Big Day Out” a fifty km bike trail from Tree Trunk Gorge, linking various roads and tracks, which has confirmed the demand exists for longer bike trails, particularly since the introduction of e-bikes. So why does the Council continue to procrastinate and take more time with another hui and secure government funding for other shared trails yet ignore the previous recommendations?

Eventually, in utter frustration about two years ago, TRM published a book “Tongariro Skulduggery” in the format of a “mockumentary” to explain what is needed to make Turangi great again – for sustainable tourism… This book should be compulsory reading for anyone considering a Turangi Destination Management Plan. It is the first book on Turangi that explores all the reasons why Turangi remains the little town that could, but never did…

We reiterate the reason for this submission is to represent and report back to many other “Murrays” who have invested in Turangi for many years, either in holiday homes here or by preferring to stay at holiday accommodation, and who are concerned at the lack of any vision by previous councils and the local Tongariro Turangi Community Board to follow through with the recommendations from their own consultants. The previous meetings and independent consultants confirmed that the T2T bike trail would be “transformational” to make Turangi a real tourism destination, so just do it!.

If it is to be credible, this latest “Destination Management Plan” must reconsider the previous recommendations from their own consultants and take their advice. Thank you for arranging another hui to remind everyone of the previous failed decisions on the future of Turangi.