New Zealand / Business

Webinars to tackle diversification of Queenstown Lakes economy

15:27 pm on 17 October 2021

The Queenstown Lakes District Council will host a series of webinars to attract business leaders and talent to the area.

Business leaders from the Queenstown Lakes District will share their insights on doing business locally at a webinar later this month. Photo: RNZ / Belinda McCammon

The council is mounting a Home for Healthier Business programme to diversify the local economy.

Business leaders from the region will share their insights on doing business locally.

The first webinar on 27 October will canvass attracting highly skilled staff, the services available locally, and connections with business networks.

The council says it is aiming at leaders looking at building a team or business in the district.

Covid-19 dealt a heavy blow to the district, where one in six people worked in the tourism industry.

There were hopes the trans-Tasman bubble would alleviate some of the area's economic pain, but those collapsed with the more recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in both New Zealand and Australia.

Launching the Home for Healthier Business campaign in July, the council's economic development manager Peter Harris said its aim was to "challenge the perception of our district as a place simply to come on holiday".

"We have an exciting and progressive community of talent and innovation here, which we want to build on. Home for Healthier Business is a campaign to showcase Queenstown, Wanaka and surrounding communities as thriving places to live and do business while forging a regenerative economy."