Overdue jet boat returns

A jetboat reported overdue last night from a trip up the Arawhata River in south Westland has been located, police say.

Constable Sean Judd, of West Coast Search and Rescue (SAR), said the boat and its four occupants were located this morning by an SAR team from Haast.
The private hunting party had been in the area, near Jackson Bay, all week. They were expected back yesterday.

Judd said because of all their gear, the group had to make several trips.

"They got one trip out with their gear, and one member of the party, dropped them off near the vehicles and the jet boat operator shot back in,'' Mr Judd said.

On the return journey, the boat ran aground and the three remaining people were unable to refloat the boat.

Two of the men walked out and raised the alarm.

The SAR team this morning was able to help refloat the boat, and everyone was now out safe and well, Mr Judd said.

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Jet Boat for Luxury Resort...

The team behind the takeover of alpine resort Terrace Downs has unveiled the new direction it hopes will bring profitability to the luxury complex -- toys.


Jet boating, archery, clay-pigeon shooting and blokarting have all been added to the resort, as has a stable of 10 horses.

Chief executive Jonny Hendrikson welcomed tourism industry leaders, local dignitaries and Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor on Thursday to what was effectively a relaunch of the resort.

As launches go, it was a wet one -- guests shot up the Rakaia River in the resort's new jet boat before flying back by heli-

copter.

The strategy is to offer a range of year-round activities beyond the golf course that was the resort's reason for existence when it was created in the late 1990s to lure wealthy Japanese tourists.

The jet boat will speed guests 25km along the nearby Rakaia River.

A helicopter shuttle service promising 10-minute flights to the nearby Mount Hutt ski field is in the pipeline for this year.

O'Connor said the original resort had been ahead of its time, but had erred by marketing itself as exclusive.

"It's been through a rocky time, but I think it is now going to be an inclusive resort."

The Tourism Minister said it was vital the resort made Cantabrians feel it was a part of their lives, rather than an enclave for wealthy international tourists.

"It is really important with any tourism operation that you get the buy-in from the community."

"I know that it is actually going to work and will move from being marginal, perhaps unprofitable, to being profitable," O'Connor said.

Hendrikson and business partner Tim Williams bought the resort in December from Japanese businessman and former professional golfer Shinnosuke Saito, who remains a director and investor.

They hope to attract more holidaymakers, as well as wedding parties and conventions.

"This has been an exclusive resort that wasn't really open to the public. Now we are all about opening up to everyone."

Hendrikson said he was confident the resort would be profitable within 12 months.

"We will become the ski resort for this area," he said. "This is going to be the most prominent destination resort in Canterbury and, we hope, in all New Zealand."

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