Nash backs bold zero carbon move
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has given a ringing endorsement of Queenstown’s plans to decarbonise its visitor industry by 2030.
Speaking in Queenstown on Friday, Nash said the country needs to move beyond the ‘she’ll be right’ mentality, which “smacks of mediocrity”.
“We go out to the world with this really powerful brand, we need to live that brand, and Queenstown more than anyone else because in the not too distant future you’re going to get customers who are going to look at the air miles and carbon footprint.
“We want to make sure that there isn’t a reason why they don’t come to New Zealand”.
The Carbon Zero 2030 plan has been created by regional tourism organisations (RTO) Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, backed by Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Nash said he was pleased to see the Government’s calls for RTOs to be ambitious in their destination management plans was being heeded.
“It’s a very, very powerful statement, a very strong inspiration. But it means that we’re going to have to work really hard to make sure we deliver it.
“It means doing things differently. Petrol cars, diesel buses, probably will have to be a thing of the past.”
He’s spoken to industry leaders like RealNZ boss Stephen England-Hall, who’s “very keen to decarbonise RealNZ”.
Nash was asked his views by Xero founder Rod Drury, in the Q&A session of Friday’s announcement of $3m in Government loans for a digital studio at the coming Research and Innovation Queenstown hub, in Remarkables Park.
Drury has championed the potential of autonomous electrical vehicles, connecting Remarkables Park, Queenstown Airport and downtown.
“Queenstown is a good test bed,” Drury said in the Q&A. “The current Waka Kotahi plan is for 14 sets of traffic lights. What? No.
“Why does any tourist need a car? There should be electric public transport, autonomous stuff. We’ve got Glen [Sowry] at the airport who wants to do some cool stuff, the Porters are open to an electric campus.
“I think we’re all up for some really bold vision stuff and then working out how to fund it.”
