Tēnā koe 

Mānawatia a Matariki - Matariki, the Māori New Year, is marked by the rising of the Pleiades star cluster and signals a time for reflection, remembrance, and planning for the future. This feels a timely theme for this month's newsletter as we started our new financial year on 1 July, with a refreshed business plan and some solid goals and actions planned for the coming year. It's also a time to reflect on the year that has been - and for that we're asking for your feedback (it's a painless 3 minute survey I promise!). 

In our newsletter below, you'll see we have been busy building a winter workshop series for you - with a wide range of webinar workshops on offer, all for free, to help you build your business and plan for the future. If you're after some in-person connection, we have also worked with our neighbours at Hamilton and Waikato Tourism to invite our industry to their annual industry symposium. 

My thanks to the 45+ business owners/operators who shared feedback on the Conservation Amendment Bill / National Conservation Policy Statement. DHC has submitted on the Conservation Amendment Bill, as well as activating the national Regional Tourism Organisation to also participate in the submission process. We await details on our speaking spot to present to the Select Committee. We continue to work on this topic, with our submission on the Conservation Policy Statement and the international visitor charging at Mautohe Cathedral Cove ongoing matters for the next few months. 

Our thanks also to all the businesses who have signed up to participate in The Coromandel Cure winter campaign. We have more than 40 'prescriptions' on the website and we're hearing great things from operators on conversion. We have received over 1 million paid social impressions and over 16,000 clicks with a CTR of 3.3%. Our Google Ads have also had over 1 million impressions, with over 18,000 clicks and a CTR of 1.7%. Media coverage to date has an EAV of over $100,000... and we've had some great feedback from people spotting our billboards in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Manawatu and Wellington. A reminder that you can still be part of the action... check the website here to see how you can get involved. 

Lastly, we remember some stalwarts of Hauraki Coromandel industry who have recently passed. Warren Male was a passionate advocate for the Coromandel and a long-time supporter of tourism in the region. Through CFM, his iconic summer beach broadcasts and his tireless enthusiasm for promoting all things Coromandel, Warren played a significant role in showcasing the people, places and experiences that make our region so special. His generosity, energy and passion for Hauraki Coromandel will be fondly remembered, and his contribution to the region leaves a lasting legacy. Noel Hewlett, whose long-standing support and advocacy for Hauraki Coromandel left a lasting mark on our region. Noel was a passionate champion for his community and a valued supporter of tourism, recognising the important role it plays in strengthening local businesses, communities and the region. His commitment and his willingness to support initiatives that benefited the region will be remembered with gratitude and respect. DHC has donated some trees through our Kaitiaki programme to honour these great men and recognise their legacy.

Noho ora mai,

Winter Learning & Development Programme

The team at Destination Hauraki Coromandel has put together a diverse mix of six free learning and development opportunities for our local tourism industry.

These are all online and on topics that you have told us you'd like some help with. The workshops are open for business owners, managers and staff. 

• How AI is changing destination marketing
• Business Continuity Planning
• Using Regional Tourism Data in your business
• Discoverability in Search - from Google to AI
• Practical steps to get Trade Ready
• AI in Tourism

Please click on the relevant link to register directly. 

HOW AI IS CHANGING DESTINATION MARKETING

July 24 2026, 10.30am to 12.00pm
Online - Book here
FREE - Presented by Tourism New Zealand 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how visitors discover destinations, plan trips and make booking decisions. From AI-assisted search to platform-led recommendations, inspiration, evaluation and conversion are increasingly happening at the same moment. 

Tourism New Zealand is firmly focused on reaching 3.9 million arrivals by December 2026 and doubling the value of tourism by 2034. Adapting to new technologies collectively as a tourism industry, will ensure that businesses and New Zealand continue to convert demand in the age of AI. 

This practical, action-focused workshop is designed to help operators ensure their product remains visible, competitive and bookable. The workshop will cover:

• AI, the changing travel booking journey and what this means for demand now and into the future 
• How to ensure destination New Zealand is visible across AI platforms 
• Practical actions operators can take to ensure their product and New Zealand is discoverable 

BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING

July 28 2026, 5:00 pm to 8:00pm 
Online - Book here
FREE - presented by SODA Inc

When disruption hits, the businesses that recover the fastest are the ones that planned ahead. This three-hour, hands-on workshop is designed for business owners and managers who want a practical approach to business continuity planning, built around real-world disruption, not hypothetical risk.

You’ll leave with the practical tools to assess your vulnerabilities, build a plan tailored to your business, and respond with confidence when disruption arrives. You’ll also receive practical resources and templates to help tailor continuity planning to your operations, industry, location and risk scenarios.‍ You’ll learn:

• What business continuity planning is, why it matters and how to apply a BCP framework to your business
• How to identify your most vulnerable business areas and understand the real cost of disruption
• The importance of preparing across every part of your operation
• Response frameworks and scenario testing to help you act quickly
• How to maintain and approve your plan over time so it stays relevant and useful

Wherever your business is at, this will equip you with the practical tools and knowledge to face disruption with confidence and come out the other side stronger.

USING REGIONAL TOURISM DATA IN YOUR BUSINESS

August 11 2026, 1.00pm to 2.30pm
Online - Book here
FREE - Presented by Vistr 

Join the team from Vistr, providers of visitor data to Destination Hauraki Coromandel, as they unpack the regional tourism data that is freely available to use in your business.

Vistr uses various datasets to monitor tourism activity along the visitor journey... including tourism volumes and flows (where people come from, how long they're here, and where they go next), spending (both domestic and international), commercial and short-term rental accommodation, and employment. 

This free webinar workshop will show you what data is available, and how to use it to benefit your business. 

DISCOVERABILITY IN SERACH - FROM GOOGLE TO AI

August 18 2026, 11.00am to 12.30pm
Online - Book here
FREE - Presented by Maverick Tourism 

The way travellers research, trust, and book is changing fast. AI tools, social content, and global uncertainty are reshaping how decisions are made, and where bookings happen. For many operators, it’s getting harder to cut through.

Presented by ⁠Maverick, this workshop focuses on how 'search' is changing... attendees will receive practical, proven ways to grow direct bookings, and help you stay ahead of the AI curve.

Normally priced at $400 per person, Destination Hauraki Coromandel is funding this webinar so it is free for our local operators to participate.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO GET TRADE READY

September 1 2026, 11.00am to 12.30pm
Online - Book here
FREE - Presented by Destination Hauraki Coromandel and guests

Transitioning your business into the international 'trade' environment can be daunting... filled with jargon, process and systems, checklists and rules, and so many potential partners to choose from!

At this practical webinar, the team from DHC will step you through the key steps to moving your business into the trade space, including:

• How does the trade ecosystem actually work
• What does it mean to be 'trade ready'
• What are the benefits and what are the costs
• How to identify potential trade partners
• What's the process to get set up

DHC will be joined by a local operator who will share their experiences of working with the trade, plus some of our existing trade partners who will demystify the onboarding process and answer any queries you have.

AI IN TOURISM

September 15 2026, 11.00am to 12.30pm
Online - Book here
FREE - Presented by Maverick Tourism 

The way travelers find and choose tourism experiences is changing fast. Our second workshop from Maverick, AI for Tourism, will focus on how to work smarter, move faster and actually use AI where it counts - from everyday marketing tasks to better customer communications. 

Presented by Maverick, this webinar will be practical, jargon-free and built specifically for tourism businesses.

Normally priced at $400 per person, Destination Hauraki Coromandel is funding this webinar so it is free!

Plus... People, Places & Progress Industry Symposium

All Hauraki Coromandel tourism business operators are warmly invited to join colleagues from across the wider region at Hamilton & Waikato Tourism's annual industry symposium, bringing together tourism professionals for a day of inspiration, fresh thinking, team development, and valuable industry connections.

Centred on the theme of People. Places. Progress., this year's symposium will explore how strong leadership, meaningful partnerships and practical innovation can help our visitor economy thrive.

Event details:
Where: Centre stage at BNZ Theatre, Hamilton
Date: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Time: 8.30am -3.30pm

Cost:
$79 + GST per person (select 'Outer Waikato' when registering to receive this special rate)

Event Highlights:
Hear from an inspiring lineup of industry leaders, including Sue Loder and Stephanie Hay from Soda Inc, who will share practical strategies for navigating change and building business resilience, and Nicola Greenwell from Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, who will share the latest regional tourism data, insights, and trends. Jezza Williams from Adapting Aotearoa and Makingtrax Foundation, whose powerful personal story highlights how accessibility can create more inclusive visitor and event experiences and unlock new opportunities for tourism; and Kyle Mulinder from Bare Kiwi, who will explore how storytelling, partnerships, and digital influence can help businesses build authentic connections, expand their reach, and deliver meaningful results.

Interactive Breakout Sessions: 
Choose from three interactive breakout sessions, each offered twice, allowing you to attend two topics:

• Russell Drake (EMA) - Employment law updates and what they mean for your businesses.
• Guy Schwikkard (Yonder) - How AI is transforming business operations and enhancing the visitor experience.
• Event professional (TBC) - Bringing major events to the Waikato and the lasting impact they have on destinations and communities.

Networking Lunch:
Continue the conversation over lunch, connect with fellow tourism professionals, exchange ideas, and build relationships that strengthen our industry while enjoying delicious fare from Mat Pedley and his team at Hamilton Hotel. An optional tour of the new BNZ Theatre will end the day.

Whether you're looking for new ideas, to develop your team, valuable connections, or practical strategies to implement within your business, People, Places & Progress is an opportunity to invest in your organisation.

For more information about the Symposium, click here

GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki