Golden Bay Promotion Association celebrates 25 years
A planned dinner at the Pohara Boat Club last month failed to attract enough quite enough ticket sales to go ahead, but that’s not deterring the Golden Bay Promotion Association from celebrating its 25th anniversary with drinks and nibbles in the front lounge of the Junction Hotel this Monday (December 7), in the same place it all began with a champagne breakfast.
Involved from the very start, Paul Sangster recalls the impetus to form the association was partly provided by a successful six-week Golden Bay promotion on Nelson Radio over the summer of 1981-82, which later led to the installation of the big aerial at Rototai.
“It was at a time when all the predictions were for a declining population. No one in their right mind would start up a business. We needed a boost to get going.” Others involved included Kevin Barry, Jim Bickley, Nola and Graeme Drummond, Trevor and Tui Boyes, and Barry Cashman.
Not everyone was happy when the non-profit organisation officially formed. When the first big public meeting was held to discuss actively promoting the Bay, back in early 1984, the little RSA hall was packed to bursting with 96 people, two thirds of whom came along to oppose it. “Some very frank views got exchanged about spoiling paradise,” recalls Paul, who estimates that some 60 tourism-related businesses have now been created in the Bay, thanks not only natural growth but actively managed tourism promotion.
“I believe that is something to celebrate. Within one 18-month period, 36 businesses started up, the Mussel Inn and Farewell Spit Café amongst them.”
Nowadays the GBPA has 120 members and, amongst other things, is responsible for publishing the Golden Bay Visitor Guide, Heart of the Parks Brochure, and Yellow Map of Golden Bay, as well as running the www.goldenbaynz.co.nz website. The $145 subscriptions paid by GBPA members also pay for the hanging planter baskets that are now an established feature in summertime Takaka. One of the association’s truly big achievements was building the Information Centre at the top of town in 1985-86, which is now leased to and run by Nelson Tasman Tourism (NTT) in line with other i-sites around the country.
Barry Cashman recalls how everyone generously pitched in from near and far to get it built. “Cam Allen from Bainham gave the logs for the all the timber, Harlin Construction gave a water tank; even Russells, whose curtain van I just flagged down on the road out of town one day, ended up donating all the drapes and curtains for the place. In one trip to Nelson, I picked up all the donated plumbing pipes, electrical wire, hot water cylinder, well pipes, water pump, even an electric jug. It was built on PEP labour, but us tradesmen all pitched in after work to do our bit. Sometimes it was a bit like a jungle gym, with people swarming all over it helping.”
The chair of the GBPA for the last four years has been Jane Dixon, co-proprietor of the Mussel Inn, which has also belonged to the association for the last 17 years.
“In many ways the Promotion Association has filled the role of a business association here because Golden Bay doesn’t have one, not even for mainstreet Takaka. There may have been a bit of controversy at the start, but in the end the Bay was ready for a promotional group like this. It signified a great self-determining change of direction for the Bay,” said Jane.
Interested in attending the 25th celebration at the Junction Hotel on Monday at 5pm? Contact cynthia@goldenbaynz.co.nz or phone 970 7581. Casuals on the night are okay, too.
Gerard Hindmarsh
