Economic Development

Whakawhanaketaka Ohaoha

The Economic Development Unit (EDU) works to diversify our economy and encourage higher value jobs. The aim of this is to provide our residents with access to better incomes and more work choices outside of the changeable tourism and construction industries.

The EDU’s role is to look to the future and facilitate the shaping of a business environment that is diverse, resilient and sustainable.

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Key Areas of Focus

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Economic Profile

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Support, Recovery and Reset Plan

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Contact us

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Key Areas of Focus

Diversifying our economy

We need to ensure our economy is resilient and future-proofed with high value jobs.

Supporting tourism to become regenerative

Understand how we're supporting tourism to become more regenerative.

Building business capability and talent

Encouraging businesses to work together on local and regional issues.

Home for Healthier Business

QLDC initiative aiming to establish Queenstown Lakes as healthy and thriving place to do business.

Queenstown Lakes District Economic Profile

The below information provided by economic analyst firm Infometrics gives an in-depth description of the Queenstown Lakes District’s economic structure and performance.

It offers the ability to drill down into both the Whakatipu Basin and Wanaka and Surrounds, offering detailed information for both areas.

You can also compare our district’s data against other regions throughout New Zealand to get an idea of how we’re doing in relation to the rest of the country.

Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Reset Plan – Queenstown Lakes

The Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan targeted five communities acutely affected by COVID-19, including Queenstown Lakes.

The Government made three different grants available to tourism businesses:

  1. Business Advisory Support (up to $5,000 per business operation) to enable businesses to receive expert advice and support, such as on changing target markets, or scaling their business.

  2. Grants for businesses to implement business advice (up to $5,000 per business operation).

  3. Tourism Kick-start Grants between $10,000 and $50,000 per eligible business operation (excluding GST). This grant is to help business prepare for the return of international visitors.

All three funds have now closed. QLDC was the lead entity for our district but did not accept or assess applications. Otago Regional Business Partners was the contact point for businesses. Tourism Kick-start Grant applications were assessed by an independent organisation. Eligible businesses received their grant payment via the QLDC finance team.

Find further details on approved funding below.

  • Total funding approved

    $4,543,964.20

    Total number of businesses that accessed support

    985

    Category of service covered

    No of services

    As a % of total number of services

    Managing resources

    272

    17.4%

    Marketing Strategies

    909

    58.0%

    Business continuity

    647

    41.3%

    Finance

    360

    23.0%

    Business Planning

    86

    5.5%

    Digital enablement

    513

    32.7%

    Business sustainability

    58

    3.7%

    Leadership

    69

    4.4%

    Business Systems

    49

    3.1%

    Health and wellness

    65

    4.1%

    Hibernation support

    87

    5.6%

    Lean Manufacturing/Business operations

    6

    0.4%

    Governance

    8

    0.5%

    Capital raising

    3

    0.2%


    Please note these numbers are subject to minor changes. For further information please visit the MBIE website. (www.mbie.govt.nz)

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  • Total funding approved

    $4,619,693.89

    Total number of businesses that accessed support

    951

    Expenditure for each category

    TOTAL grant expenditure

    $4,619,993.89

    TOTAL expenditure in HR & Employee Relations and Legal

    $210,133.47

    TOTAL expenditure in Financial and Cashflow Management

    $252,000.50

    TOTAL expenditure in Health and Wellness

    $40,695.00

    TOTAL expenditure in Business Continuity Planning

    $497,500.85

    TOTAL expenditure in Marketing Strategy

    $1,640,192.74

    TOTAL expenditure in Digital Enablement Strategy

    $1,887,884.17

    TOTAL expenditure in Hibernation and exit advice

    $19,185.00

    TOTAL expenditure in Management Capability Training and Coaching

    $72,102.20


    Please note these numbers are subject to minor changes. For further information please visit the MBIE website. (www.mbie.govt.nz).

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  • Total funding approved

    $13,902,617.00

    Total number of businesses that accessed support

    460


    Please note these numbers are subject to minor changes. For further information on recipients please visit the MBIE website. (www.mbie.govt.nz)

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Contact us

While this website outlines just some of the EDU work priorities, there are many other projects that we either lead, input or partner with others on. We work closely with the Chambers of Commerce, Regional Business Partners, Regional Tourism Organisations, central government and other partners to deliver positive economic outcomes locally. If you would like any further information, have a question or even a great idea then please get in touch.

Peter Harris: Economic Development Manager

peter.harris@qldc.govt.nz
+64 27 230 9971