The “Economic impacts of spa and wellness tourism in Rotorua” report, provided by New Zealand leading regional economist Benje Patterson, has unveiled significant positive economic impact and shown the city's prominence as a premier destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.
I can scarcely believe that my economic consultancy has turned 5. Since 2019, I have worked on hundreds of projects for a large range of clients. These projects have spanned the length and breadth of New Zealand, and have even included some forays abroad.
Benje Patterson was commissioned by the developers of 1 Hansen Road, Queenstown to consider the economic and social impacts of a proposed worker accommodation complex that would contain 554 bedrooms (residential units) and house 710 people.
Benje Patterson estimated the potential use and economic impacts of a proposed Taieri Gorge extension to the Otago Central Rail Trail. An extension would give opportunities for bikers or walkers to travel between Middlemarch and Taieri, allowing for easy access from Dunedin with its large population and range of supporting visitor amenities.
Benje Patterson has recently investigated the economic impacts of biking in plantation forests in New Zealand. As part of this research, an international case study from Deschutes National Forest in Oregon, United States was presented.
A report by regional economist Benje Patterson aims to highlight the contribution of Timaru and South Canterbury’s primary sector exports, and was commissioned by economic development agency Venture Timaru. Exports from the region totalled $3.9 billion in 2022.
A new Benje Patterson report commissioned by RotoruaNZ that assesses the contribution of mountain biking to the Rotorua Lakes Economy shows that $103.4m was spent in Rotorua last year by visitors who visited for the sole purpose of mountain biking. Other visitors who mountain biked while staying in Rotorua for other reasons spent a further $36.4m, a total contribution of $139.8m to the local economy.
Benje Patterson assessed the economic impact of biking and mountain biking in Queenstown Lakes. The report showed that biking accounts for $157.6 million of spending and is already more than a third the size of the ski economy.
A deep look into Queenstown's economy and how it is diversifying its way to a more resilient future. Tourism will always play an important role in our local economy, but many of the same things which attract tourists also bring talented people to our neck of the woods.
Clients and friends often ask me what I get up to on a usual day. It’s all a bit higgledy-piggledy at times to be perfectly honest. But that’s the way I like it. The rest of this post outlines what I worked on professionally in 2021 and what is in store for 2022.
Benje Patterson was commissioned to estimate the economic and social outcomes of Dunedin’s arts and culture sector. The report outlined the benefits to local residents’ quality of life, as well as the reputation and attractiveness of Dunedin to its visitors.
A return to a business-as-usual environment is not necessarily an aspiration shared by all. A fantastic outcome for New Zealand and its regions would be if we can use COVID-19 as a reset to think about how we can do things better.