Rezi Gousmett - A tourism star, 50 years of selling her ‘spiritual home’
Arriving in NZ by ship at two, little Rezi Gousmett and her, then single, Latvian mum were refugees fresh from a post-World War II ‘Displaced Persons’ Camp’ in Germany.
Rezi was born in Germany in 1947. Her Latvian father went back through The Iron Curtain to find work, sending for them later. “Mum wouldn’t go back behind the Iron Curtain so we ended up in this camp with Poles, Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians.”
We were sent to the Pahiatua Refugee Camp before Karitane Baby Hospital, near Invercargill, where Mum worked in the kitchen and laundry. “I had the most wonderful time,” recalls Rezi. “Pop Murdoch and Uncle Adam built me a trolley for my dollies. The matron, Miss Day, took me around the schools bathing me in front of home science classes to teach the students how.”
After a move to Christchurch, they settled in Auckland where a wonderful Rotary couple took them under their wing, taking Rezi on holidays and paying for her school uniform while at Auckland Girls Grammar. A talented seamstress, her mum set up a sewing business, designing and making clothing for Auckland socialites, even Prime Minister Rob Muldoon’s wife (Dame) Thea.
At 22 Rezi moved to Queenstown and with help from another lovely southern Rotary couple, Clarrie and Myrtle Boyd, scored a job at Queenstown Visitor Bureau in Rees Street run by Lex Croad, ex Stars Travel.
An innovator, Lex changed tourism attitudes, discouraging derogatory slangs like ‘loopies’ used for tourists. “People learned to respect tourists as they were paying their wages,” she says. Lex brought in French Polynesian tours. “I spoke perfect French and spoke on the tour buses.”
Rezi flatted at the back of the business with two Australian girls, before moving to the ‘Queenstown Apartments For Ladies’ run by Mr Philpott above Wilkinson’s Pharmacy. “We could look out the window directly into Eichardt’s Bar to see if there was any talent then we’d go over,” grins Rezi.
On the last night before heading to Auckland to help her mother in her clothing store Rezi met now husband of 50 years, Ken, who was about to leave for Canada to do glacial research work in the Arctic. Sparks flew and love letters flowed until eventually Ken returned and they married in Queenstown in 1973.
“We bought an Arthur’s Point section for $3000, borrowing money from Ken’s parents, and lived in a caravan for 18 months until the awning collapsed in heavy snow.” They also did a stint in a backcountry hut, crossing the Shotover River daily as crew during construction of the remote Moonlight Lodge on Ben Lomond Station.
Rezi was overseas travel consultant for Mount Cook Group for five years before they headed overseas – company discounts offering them 75 percent off worldwide airfares. On their second trip they settled in Canada for five years, Natalie born there, Katrina back in Queenstown.
They bought a 1.2ha Arthur’s Point section overlooking the Shotover, which proved to be a fortuitous investment.
Rezi became the friendly face at the THC desk in Queenstown Travelodge, later Parkroyal, moving to the new THC Hotel, now Novotel Lakefront, when it opened in the late 1980s. After a stint for Australian Pacific Tours, she worked for ID Tours, hosting big incentive groups of up to 500 as operations co-ordinator. “The likes of Honda and Coca Cola sent their top salespeople here, no expense spared on all sorts of activities.”
She also worked as liaison at Millbrook for former US President Bill Clinton’s visit in 1999, receiving a glowing personal thank you letter from him. “I was asked for references to host upmarket US tour groups and the American coordinator rang me as she didn’t believe my letter from Bill Clinton was real.” Rezi also hosted film directors here on their private jets, in her element, her friendly, welcoming demeanour in demand.
Rezi even had a visit from the police once while working at Parkroyal, asking her to identify a suspect in the French Rainbow Warrior bombing who’d been seeking travel advice from her desk a few days prior. “He was silly enough to have a rafting photo taken,” she says.
Her years of tourism experience became invaluable as a tourism tutor for Otago Polytechnic locally, and at 49 Rezi made the emotional trip back to Latvia to reconnect with her father.
Rezi only retired from 50 years in the tourism work she loved six years ago at 70 and is now enjoying grandchildren.
A strong advocate for women’s rights she’s persisted in having many an offensive ad removed locally. “You’ve got to speak up when you see wrongs and objectifying of women,” and she does.
Still active skiers, bikers, ski mountaineers, trampers and kayakers, after 50 years living here Rezi and Ken are still in their happy place and here to stay.
“This is our spiritual home, particularly Arthur’s Point.”
