Ngai Tahu Tourism jetboating attractions first to reopen

Two Ngāi Tahu Tourism businesses will reopen in New Zealand – Hukafalls Jet is reopening on Saturday 30th May, followed by Shotover Jet on Friday 3rd July.

Both attractions will be open four days a week, Friday to Monday, with opening specials, a lighter schedule in line with domestic demand and limited passenger numbers in order to adhere to alert level 2 requirements.

Ngāi Tahu Tourism is the parent company for a selection of New Zealand tourism businesses specialising in the outdoors. The jetboating attractions are the first of its 10 attractions to reopen, joining Glacier Southern Lakes Helicopters, which has remained in operation. Conditions will continue to be regularly assessed ahead of reopening Ngāi Tahu Tourism’s remaining businesses.

Due to the significant impacts of COVID-19, operations at 10 of Ngāi Tahu Tourism’s 11 businesses had been temporarily paused beyond the nationwide lockdown until conditions allowed them to reopen.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai says the reopenings firmly demonstrate how committed the iwi remains to the tourism industry.

Tumahai  advises “we are delighted we are now in a position to reopen these businesses and we are looking forward to supporting the regeneration of tourism in Queenstown and Taupō, where our partners and the communities have been very supportive of us resuming operations.

“The towns and regions in which we operate our tourism businesses are deeply important to us, so we are excited to return to these communities, to start welcoming manuhiri again and to share our amazing experiences with New Zealanders.”

Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive Mike Pohio notes “there has been a surge in support from our valued partners, especially in Queenstown, and from Kiwis wanting to and being able to travel, as well as greater potential for the trans-Tasman bubble, so our jetboats are returning to the water.

“We had always intended to reopen Shotover Jet and Hukafalls Jet earlier than our other businesses, so our recent staffing restructure took that into account.”

Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult says he is delighted Shotover Jet will soon be counted among the activities open for business in Queenstown.

Mayor Bolt adds “Shotover Jet is an iconic tourism business that represents innovation and adventure in our stunning natural environment. I am confident Kiwis, and soon hopefully visitors from our trans-Tasman bubble, will jump at the opportunity to experience Shotover River canyons.”