MAKE WAY NEW ZEALAND – there’s another stunning region about to tap into the conference and incentive industry.

STORY BY NATALIE AKOORIE

Take a bow Gisborne – it’s your turn in the spotlight. Located on the sunny East Coast of the North Island, Gisborne and the surrounding Eastland region are now targeting the C&I market. And with two new hotels and a myriad of unique attractions, Gisborne is poised to become New Zealand’s hottest new destination. A population of 30,000 means Gisborne is small enough to make group experiences boutique, but none-the-less a city with city conveniences. Tourism Eastland marketing executive Kaarin Gaukrodger believes Gisborne has got the perfect ingredients for hosting group events. “We’re opening up a region that’s ideal for people wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. You can be right in the city but only five minutes walk from the beach,” Miss Gaukrodger said. While the Eastland region has a total population of about 45,000, it’s Gisborne which is making inroads into the C&I industry. In March the brand new Emerald Hotel will open with 66 rooms and conferencing facilities for up to 360 theatre-style. Newly opened in December 2004 is the Portside Hotel with 64 rooms, and conferencing abilities in conjunction with The Poverty Bay Club. Miss Gaukrodger says there are also existing hotels and other infrastructure coming online. And then there’s Gisborne’s wonderfully unique selling points. The first city in the world to see the sun every morning, Gisborne was a sought after spot on New Year’s Eve 1999, when thousands of revelers descended on the destination to be among the first to welcome in the new Millennium. Young Nicks Head or Te Kuri-o-Paoa was the site where Captain Cook’s crew first spotted New Zealand and came ashore in 1769, tying the city to an interesting history. It was also where the first Maori to arrive in New Zealand landed the immigrational waka, Horouta. With warm summers and mild winters, and one of the sunniest places in New Zealand, Gisborne offers great outdoor activities including all water sports, plus the popular land sports of golfing, claybird shooting and many more. Known as the Chardonnay capital of New Zealand, Eastland is also famous for its wineries, while the region forms part of the popular Pacific Coast Highway scenic route. Air access is via Air New Zealand with seven flights from Auckland and five from Wellington per day, while charter flights are a possibility with Gisborne airport able to handle bigger planes. Miss Gaukrodger said Tourism Eastland is currently in the middle of organising a new website and a C&I brochure and aims to have this ready in time for Meetings NZ, which the organisation will attend with the region’s two newest hotels. “We are really getting involved and are committed to the development of this market. We totally believe that what we offer, we’ll be able to deliver.”

MEET, EAT AND SLEEP

Emerald Hotel
Located on the corner of Reads Quay and Gladstone Road in the central business district, Emerald Hotel is due to open in March. It has five levels with 66 rooms including four executive apartments and two presidential suites, sleeping a total of 236 people. The conference facility can cater for 360 theatre-style or 244 banquet-style. The room can be partitioned into three smaller spaces. A 1900s historic building converted into a private 16-seat moive theatre is perfect for product launches. The hotel also features a gym, spa facilities, a restaurant, and outdoor swimming pool. For more information visit www.emeraldtourism.com

Portside Hotel
Superbly located on the water’s edge in Gisborne’s central business district and only five minutes from the airport, Portside Hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travellers. The fourstar hotel’s rooms all feature full kitchens while suites boast separate bedrooms and a spacious living area with balcony and full laundry. The new property provides picturesque views of the inner harbour and the city centre and is within easy walking distance to the city’s best bars, restaurants, cafes and over 150 specialty stores. The hotel has a phase two plan for conference facilities. For more information visit www.portsidegisborne.com

The Poverty Bay Club
A restaurant and bar, The Poverty Bay Club on Childers Road can also be used as a function venue and has a 200-pax capacity in the Dome Room. It also has smaller breakout rooms and a large garden facility which can be used for a marquee. The Club is ideally located in the city centre, two minutes walk to both the Emerald Hotel and the Portside Hotel and five minutes walk to the beach. As well as meetings the venue is also ideal for weddings and corporate functions. For more information telephone (06) 868 9179, or email rya@thepovertybayclub.com

MUST SEE AND DO

Moana Eco Tour
Take the Moana Eco Tour through the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve and learn about the Maori Legends of Whangara. On this tour participants will get close to a seal colony and play with dolphins, or try the stingray and penguin experience where there’s a chance to hand feed stingrays and look at penguin chicks in their natural habitat. For something a little more exciting try the shark cage diving. Bookings can be made through the Gisborne i-SITE Visitor Information Centre on (06) 868 6139 or visit www.divetatapouri.com for more information.

Ashworth Helicopter tours
Based at Gisborne and Wairoa airports, Ashworth Helicopters specialises in scenic flights, hunting and fishing safaris and services to Eastland’s vast wilderness areas. Guides and equipment are available for all outdoor activities. There’s also 10-minute scenic flights over Gisborne and its beaches for groups of up to five and heli-fishing to excellent fishing spots on the East Coast. Ashworth Helicopters have three operating helicopters. For more information telephone (06) 867 7128, or email heliash@bpc.co.nz

Whale Rider tours
Enjoy a tour with Hone Taumaunu, the cultural adviser for the critically acclaimed New Zealand movie Whale Rider. This guided tour of Whangara, the place where the movie was filmed, includes a visit to the home where much of the filming took place and a chance to hear the story which inspired the film. View the whale props and waka used in the movie, stroll the beach and view the Marae used. Tours take about two hours and a minimum of four people are required. For more information telephone (06) 868 6139, or email info@gisbornenz.com

Wine Trails
Gisborne is one of New Zealand’s largest grape growing regions with just over half its 2000 hectares of vineyards planted to Chardonnay. Visit the Millton Vineyard, a small family-run winery, committed to producing handcrafted wines from their own organically-grown grapes. The picturesque winery is situated just 15 minutes from Gisborne city. For more information telephone (06) 862 8680, email info@milton.co.nz, or visit www.milton.co.nz

Fishing
The East Cape area is home to many types of fish including Shark, Marlin, Southern Yellowtail (Kingfish), Groper, Snapper, Terakihi, Bluenose and Tuna. Mid to late summer (February to March) are the best time to go after game fish. Clear trout-filled streams and lakes surrounded by native bush abound on the East Cape. For a wide variety of fishing and diving companies visit www.gisbornenz.com.