Business View Magazine | June 2020

87 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JUNE 2020 BULLER DI STR I CT COUNC I L , NZ the West Coast region of the South Island and 85 percent of the District land belongs to the Department of Conservation. Only 15 percent is considered to be ratable, which presents many challenges as it is geographically spread out; it is isolated, and with only 13,000 residents there is a small rating base to bring in sufficient revenue and resources to develop and build up the infrastructure and the assets for the community. The Buller District has encountered significant economic changes over the past five years, with the closing of the state coal mine and Holcim’s cement works. Those closures had a huge economic impact on the community, many families moved out of town to find work which created another set of challenges. Currently, in terms of economic value, tourism is outstripping what coal mining and dairy farming deliver. “However,” Mason admits, “we acknowledge that tourism brings a fragility and vulnerability with it, because all it takes is an event to turn the tourism tap off. So we’re very mindful of that.” Buller District has several exciting initiatives in progress, boosted by the Central Government’s Provincial Growth Fund – $300 billion which regions can apply for to generate new business and create employment. Through that fund, District Council has directly brought about $7.8 million in the last 12 months to the District, with up to 40 million PGF application via Ngati Waewae (local Iwi), The Department of Conservation and Community Trusts for developing the Kawatiri Coastal Trail, a grade 2 trail that will appeal to families for cycling and hiking and spans 54 km through some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand. This will open up another level of tourism in addition to Old Ghost Road, developing a visitor experience centre at Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks & Blowholes), improving road access and protecting the beautiful natural Oparara Arches and the development of the Pounamu Pathway which tells the Maori story of Pounamu across the West Coast. “We’re also looking at bringing in different kinds