Tourism, outstanding community work and conservation initiatives will be a focus of the upcoming visit of the Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae to Central Otago and Fiordland.
The four-day visit commences with a dinner on 16 November with the Mayors of Southland District Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Central Otago District Council and Clutha District Council, and the Chair of Otago Regional Council.
On Tuesday 17 November the Governor-General and Lady Janine will visit Alexandra to see the Salvation Army Community Garden. While Lady Janine tours the Arts Gold Exhibition and views items from the Eden Hore Collection at Central Stories Art, the Governor-General will be at the Alexandra Community House, where he will learn about an anti-cyber-bullying programme, “Sticks and Stones”. Lady Janine will then join him to meet representatives of the Community House’s numerous agencies.
In the afternoon, Their Excellencies will visit the Highland Motorsport Park at Cromwell and meet local wine-makers at The Nose restaurant. In the evening, TTS Earnslaw will convey them to Walter Peak Station for a round-table discussion with hospitality and tourism business leaders.
Wednesday 18 November will begin with a visit to Queenstown Resort College to meet staff and students before a visit to the St John Ambulance Station in Queenstown, where the Governor-General will dedicate a new building extension and 4 x 4 ambulances.
Their Excellencies will then return to the Resort College to host a lunch for local community volunteers and representatives of immigrant communities. Later in the afternoon they will fly to Milford Sound for an overnight journey on the Milford Mariner.
On Thursday, 19 November, Their Excellencies will meet members of the Milford Emergency Rescue Team (MERT) before travelling to see the Avalanche Monitoring System Weather Station on Mount Bell. From there they will fly to Rainbow Reach to meet Te Anau school students who are working on The Kids Restore project on the Kepler Track. Their Excellencies will then host a lunch for local health and medical staff at the Distinction Lakefront Hotel in Te Anau, before boarding a helicopter for their final engagement, a flight to Dusky Sound, where they will board DoC launch Southern Winds to see DoC conservation projects, including kakapo conservation on Anchor Island. Their Excellencies will then return to Wellington from Te Anau.
Full programme:
Monday 16 November
19.30 Their Excellencies host a private dinner for the region’s Mayors.
Tuesday 17 November
9.45am Their Excellencies visit the Salvation Army Community Garden in Alexandra.
Media Contact: Brian Seymour (Garden Manager) 027 3275389
10.30am His Excellency visits The Alexandra Community House for a presentation on an initiative to combat cyber-bullying and to meet representatives of community organisations.
10.30am Her Excellency visits Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery to see the Arts Gold Exhibition before joining His Excellency at The Alexandra Community House.
Media Contact: Maria de Cort 021 991952, Nick Lanham, 021 848800 (Central Otago District Council)
1.00pm Their Excellencies visit Highland Motorsport Park in Cromwell, view the facilities, experience the Aroma Room at The Nose Restaurant and meet local wine makers.
Media Contact: Josie Spillane (Highlands Motorsport Park) 027 2214334/03 4454052
4.00pm Their Excellencies sail on TSS Earnslaw with hospitality and tourism business leaders to Walter Peak Station for a round-table discussion and barbecue dinner.
Media Contact: Tsehai Tiffin (Real Journeys) 021 523899
Wednesday 18 November
9.00am Their Excellencies visit Queenstown Resort College and meet staff and students of the Ambassador Programme.
Media Contact: Charlie Phillips (Chief Executive) 021688637/03 4090500
10.15am Their Excellencies visit the St John Ambulance Station in Queenstown where His Excellency will dedicate a building extension and 4 x 4 ambulances.
Media Contact: Ian Rae (Director of Ceremonies, St John) 0274 337656
12.00pm Their Excellencies host a lunch at Queenstown Resort College for local community volunteers and representatives of immigrant communities.
Media Contact: Rebecca Pitts (Queenstown Lakes District Council) 03 4410499
4.30pm Their Excellencies board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise.
Media Contact: Tsehai Tiffin (Real Journeys), 021 523899
Thursday 19 November
9.15am Their Excellencies visit MERT (Milford Emergency Rescue Team)
Media Contact: Gary Tong (Mayor of Southland District Council) 0274 4655182
10.15am Their Excellencies visit the Avalanche Monitoring System Weather Station on Mount Bell.
Media Contact: Wayne Carran (Manager Avalanche-Heavy Construction Downer) 027 4923532/03 2490237
11.15am Their Excellencies visit Rainbow Reach and the Kepler Track to meet school children involved in conservation programmes.
Media Contact: Kate Hebblethwaite (Department of Conservation) 03 2490237
12.45pm Their Excellencies host a lunch for Community Health and Emergency Services at the Distinction Lakefront Hotel, Te Anau
Media Contact: Ebel Kramer (Southland District Council) 027 5107785
2.00pm Their Excellencies travel by helicopter to Dusky Sound for launch trip on Southern Winds to see conservation initiatives, including a kakapo programme on Anchor Island.
Media Contact: Kate Hebblethwaite (Department of Conservation) 03 2490237
Media are invited to register their intention to attend events. To register, please contact either Nerina Bennett, Government House Public Affairs Manager on 021 470583, or the media contacts listed above.
ENDS