Reviewing the comments from inmates while sorting out bookings for 24th February, I again considered the reputation of Tongariro and the impact on the local economy from the trout anglers. To try to convince Toe Paw Council of the importance of trout fishing to the local tourist industry, the following schedule for one day’s bookings should help. It is compelling evidence that they continue to ignore.

As this information on guests is private, please keep it confidential. We have omitted their names but have included a few older photos in case you recognise them.

We could have chosen any date during the busy Jan-Feb-March dry-fly cicada season, but chose February to suggest we were not stacking it with tourists on holiday or weekenders or Lake O addicts. DOC continue to close Lake O in February. – a strange decision that is still questioned by anglers.

Tuesday 24 February

Unit 1 – Regular visitor from West Island here fishing for 4 days. Usually manages 3-4 trips each year. (He is also needed during the summer to water SWMBO’s garden)

Unit 2 – Canadian angler here again for over a month. He leaves in early April. He even has time to serve up dinner for SWMBO.

Unit 3 – Four tourist anglers from North America for one week, their first visit. Being guided by the inmate below who is in Unit 6.

Unit 4 – Two anglers from West Island for two weeks. They have been regular inmates since 2005.

Unit 5 – Two more anglers from West Island here again for one week.

Unit 6 – The other American guiding the four anglers in Unit 3 – usually stays up to a month each summer.

Unit 7 – A West Island angler booked for 12 nights, who returns every summer.

Unit 8 – At last, a Kiwi couple from Napier back for one week boating on Lake Taupo.

Unit 9 – Studio still available, for now…

Unit 10 – Studio booked for four nights by a Jaffa. (Just Another Fantastic Aucklander)

Unit 11 – Two anglers from Ballarat in West Island booked for their first visit for ten nights.

That is 19 tourist fishing guests, 47% from West Island, 37% from North America, 15% Kiwi. You can understand why Turangi is frustrated when Toe Paw fails to promote the significant contribution made to the local economy from such fine looking tourists. For a struggling tourist town, they are the salt of the earth and deserve more recognition!

As for the fishery managers’ strange method to encourage overseas anglers, they fine them an extra levy! i.e. consider the following:

Taupō fishing licence fees for the 2025/26 season vary by duration and residency, with adult resident prices like $23 for 24-hour, $49 for a week, and $105 for the whole season; non-resident rates are higher, at $169 for a whole season

SWMBO suggests that, after considering how much they contribute, if we want to encourage tourism in Taupo, they should be FREE!