Employment
Opportunities
in the
Southern Ruapehu District
2026-2050
May
I suggest that Waimarino business people in the tourist industry
look at how the use of the chairlifts and other infrastructure at
Turoa could be profitably diversified to all-year-round use,
in the same way that our hill-country wool farmers diversified the
use of their land when the price of wool crashed in 1985.
With income now flowing in from a variety of sources, those hill-country farmers, and the firms dealing with them, are in an equally profitable but far more stable situation, with their workers having year-round work.
With income now flowing in from a variety of sources, those hill-country farmers, and the firms dealing with them, are in an equally profitable but far more stable situation, with their workers having year-round work.
Global
warming is creating more intense El Nino/La Niña weather
patterns, so the temperatures are not rising steadily, but in a
zig-zag way, creating increasingly variable, and
potentially harmful summer and winter weather.El Nino's decrease in eastern rainfall to fill hydro lakes is already putting 400+ mill-related jobs at risk locally. Year-round snow volumes are shrinking by an average of 4% annually and August snow depths are now decreasing by an average of 12% annually.
With the sudden deaths of the mills, the terminal wasting away of our skifields, and unstoppable global warming increasingly threatening our veggie, milk and meat production with summer drought and our steep grass-covered hills with summer cyclones, over the last five years I have been pushing for more outdoor tourism being developed in "Cool Ruapehu®” because the unstoppable overheating of our coastal cities will create a demand for spring/summer/autumn activities here.
By diversifying what the Ruapehu District has to
offer, workers can be housed, paid and employed here all year
round, no matter what the weather conditions are like on the
mountain or in the surrounding district.
Big Opportunity A. Cool
countryside.
Cities
are becoming hotter, noisier, greyer, more crowded, more
polluted and more violent every year.
Ruapehu is close to many of these cities but is 6°C cooler, quiet, green, uncrowded, unpolluted and peaceful.
Ruapehu is close to many of these cities but is 6°C cooler, quiet, green, uncrowded, unpolluted and peaceful.
The
shift to high-temperature La Niña summer weather in crowded
coastal North Island cities from about 2026 onwards is going
create a high demand for holidays in a cooler region that is
more spacious, less crowded and close at hand. We have
about two years to prepare for this financial bonanza.
1. Guided hikes from Sky Waka and High Noon.
a. East from Sky Waka to
Waihohonu Ridge, down Waihohonu ridge to Waihohonu Hut, then
out to the Desert Road to be picked up.
b. South from High Noon, down Glacier Ridge (steps or ropes installed?) to Mangaehuehu Hut for lunch, then Rotokura Lakes to be picked up, or
c. A 2-day hike with cultural and scientific guides down from High Noon with stops at different levels to explain their glaciology, volcanology, ecological zonation and Maori cultural significance, then overnight at Mangaehuehu Hut or in tents for kiwi-watching, Next day hike south down one of the trap-setters' tracks learning about pest control and finishing at Rotokawa lakes, or the 14th century site of Te Rangiwanangananga.
b. South from High Noon, down Glacier Ridge (steps or ropes installed?) to Mangaehuehu Hut for lunch, then Rotokura Lakes to be picked up, or
c. A 2-day hike with cultural and scientific guides down from High Noon with stops at different levels to explain their glaciology, volcanology, ecological zonation and Maori cultural significance, then overnight at Mangaehuehu Hut or in tents for kiwi-watching, Next day hike south down one of the trap-setters' tracks learning about pest control and finishing at Rotokawa lakes, or the 14th century site of Te Rangiwanangananga.
2. Guided remote adventures
Tourists come seeking remote and beautiful places. Guides could take explorer tourists for off-track trips to experience the remoteness on day trips, on overnight crossings of them, or on multi-day traverses:d. The east side of Ruapehu:
accessed from the snowfield lifts.
e. Between Erua and Whakapapa,
f. between Whakapapa and Owhango,
g. between the Parapara Road and Jerusalem,
h. through most of the Whanganui National Park.
e. Between Erua and Whakapapa,
f. between Whakapapa and Owhango,
g. between the Parapara Road and Jerusalem,
h. through most of the Whanganui National Park.
3. "Alone on Top of the World”
Overnight glamping 100 metres or so from the top of the High Noon lift for: i. amateur astronomers or
j. photographers, or
k. honeymooners or
l. rich elderly, at $1000 for 24 hours
j. photographers, or
k. honeymooners or
l. rich elderly, at $1000 for 24 hours
4. Themed ceremonies
Make use of the Turoa chairlifts, the Giant's platform and rooms, and Turoa base's dining, rental and helicopter landing facilities, for: j. themed “medieval” etc
weddings,
k. surprise anniversaries
l. concerts using alpine acoustics
m. Lord of the Rings events
k. surprise anniversaries
l. concerts using alpine acoustics
m. Lord of the Rings events
5. Cycling and Walking on Historic
Tracks
Every extra 20 or 30 km of hiking/biking track will keep visitors
here for another 34 hours in rental accommodation, at restaurants
and on hire bikes. We need another 100km of tracks ASAPThe Turoa to National Park bike track is proceeding at a snails pace. Could 200 men from the mills be re-deployed to finish it by this December, and then start on more bike tracks along Pa Hill and down the old Upokongaro/Hales, Ranana and Koroniti Tracks, to be finished by next December?
There are are four historic tracks southwest of the Waimarino plains, built to connect Wanganui with Studholme's Murimotu Sheep Station.
In the 1880s Murimotu had 60,000 sheep grazing on the Rangipo/Waiouru tussocklands, with shearing, woolwashing and wool-baling operations at Karioi.
Hales' wagon track followed the ancient 'Ūpokongaro' walking track taken by Whiro and his fellow migrants in the 14th century when the Murimotu plains were first settled.
Wool from Murimotu station was taken down this ridge road by horse-drawn wagons to Mangamahu, then via the Whangaehu and Makirikiri valleys to Wanganui.
colorised by AI
I would recommend this 40 to 65 km ridgeline as the first route for development as a tourism e-bike/mountain-bike/walking track. It is nearly all gently downhill. The views are spectacular. At Mangamahu, Mount View or Pukeroa, participants could be picked up for return, or accommodated for the night before going on further to Upokongaro.
The Murimotu-Ranana Horse Track to Hatrick’s riverboats has too many ridges to cross for hikers and recreational bikers, but would make an interesting route for e-bikers, mountain bike competitors and guided historic horse treks.
The Matahiwi Track and Koroniti Track also have historic links, but I haven’t been on them.
6. Existing farm and forestry tracks
These are possible routes for day
walks, mountain-biking, e-biking, multi-day hiking and
horse-trekking.
Some of these could be fenced and metaled, with turnstiles activated by riders' cellphones to provide income for landowners, and also to let them know who was on their land, and where.
Some could be rougher multi-day walking tracks only, leading to a series of remote rental huts and cottages.
Other tracks could be open for just one day for competitions by mountain bikers, runners or QR-orienteers (see below).
I have been involved with horseback and 4WD events held on local farmland, so I presume farmers' duties to comply with OSH regulation could be dealt with.
Some of these could be fenced and metaled, with turnstiles activated by riders' cellphones to provide income for landowners, and also to let them know who was on their land, and where.
Some could be rougher multi-day walking tracks only, leading to a series of remote rental huts and cottages.
Other tracks could be open for just one day for competitions by mountain bikers, runners or QR-orienteers (see below).
I have been involved with horseback and 4WD events held on local farmland, so I presume farmers' duties to comply with OSH regulation could be dealt with.
The more rugged Jerusalem-Raetihi
region would pose greater challenges for those with the skills
and time, and would give greater isolation for the remote rental
cottage industry.
Click this image for a full-size version
7. Tracks for One-day Walks
i. up Raetihi hill (Ohakune),
j. up Otiranui,
k. up Hukaroa,
l. up Hauhungatahi
j. up Otiranui,
k. up Hukaroa,
l. up Hauhungatahi
8. QR-Orienteering
Orienteering was created 130 years ago to train Swedish army
officers in the use of paper maps to navigate unfamiliar
territory. Then in 1920 it became a competitive sport. Flags
with clippers are put around a patch of bush or similar, and
each contestant armed with a card, map and compass has to find
them and clip their card to show they have been there.
With the advent of no-touch Covid, orienteering has been updated to orienteering with QR (Quick Response) codes at each target location, while 3D maps on cellphone apps like RouteGadget guide you to QR codes placed at each target location. It is now called QR-orienteering, or QRienteering.
To make this a money-earner in the Ruapehu District, strongly-made permanent QR signs would be placed at places of interest around Ruapehu townships that are accessible by walking, biking, snow-gliding, tree-climbing, canoeing, abseiling etc. Scanning a QR code and taking a photo of yourself there would record who, where, and when an enthusiast was there on the app's server and on screens at the Powderkeg etc. |
There are a dozen interesting off-track destinations and round trips each side of the Mountain Road. I'm 83 and I have been to all of them in the past ten years. They could be promoted as "Off-Track Adventures" either half-day or full-day hikes
8 a. the Soundshell cave in the cliffs above Massey Hut
8 b. Milk Stream Oasis. On the way to Mangaturuturu Hut; go upstream instead of down.
8 c. Dragon Ridge 2 km north of Blyth Hut (Giant jagged rocks down a ridge)
8 d. The Ringing Rocks, 2 km north-east of Blyth hut
8 e. Lion King rock, near Mangaiti hut
8 f. helicopter crash site.
8 g. Cube Rock 3 km N-E of Blyth Hut.
8 i. Rangipo Desert loop walk
With the advent of no-touch Covid, orienteering has been updated to orienteering with QR (Quick Response) codes at each target location, while 3D maps on cellphone apps like RouteGadget guide you to QR codes placed at each target location. It is now called QR-orienteering, or QRienteering.
To make this a money-earner in the Ruapehu District, strongly-made permanent QR signs would be placed at places of interest around Ruapehu townships that are accessible by walking, biking, snow-gliding, tree-climbing, canoeing, abseiling etc. Scanning a QR code and taking a photo of yourself there would record who, where, and when an enthusiast was there on the app's server and on screens at the Powderkeg etc. |
There are a dozen interesting off-track destinations and round trips each side of the Mountain Road. I'm 83 and I have been to all of them in the past ten years. They could be promoted as "Off-Track Adventures" either half-day or full-day hikes
8 a. the Soundshell cave in the cliffs above Massey Hut
8 b. Milk Stream Oasis. On the way to Mangaturuturu Hut; go upstream instead of down.
8 c. Dragon Ridge 2 km north of Blyth Hut (Giant jagged rocks down a ridge)
8 d. The Ringing Rocks, 2 km north-east of Blyth hut
8 e. Lion King rock, near Mangaiti hut
8 f. helicopter crash site.
8 g. Cube Rock 3 km N-E of Blyth Hut.
8 i. Rangipo Desert loop walk
8
j. Mangaehuehu glacier edge
8
k. Upper Waitonga waterfall
etc
Points would be given according to the difficulty of getting to each place and The QRs would be an incentive to visit interesting new places in the district (thu$ $taying longer and $pending more ca$h).
Awards could be awarded for gaining points; eg shop or restaurant discounts given each time a target number of points reached, or for the group getting the most points that day, or for the first group to reach a distant place. As interest developed, special QRienteering competitions for increasingly elite teams would attract large numbers of visitors with money to spend on food, accommodation, equipment hire etc.
etc
Points would be given according to the difficulty of getting to each place and The QRs would be an incentive to visit interesting new places in the district (thu$ $taying longer and $pending more ca$h).
Awards could be awarded for gaining points; eg shop or restaurant discounts given each time a target number of points reached, or for the group getting the most points that day, or for the first group to reach a distant place. As interest developed, special QRienteering competitions for increasingly elite teams would attract large numbers of visitors with money to spend on food, accommodation, equipment hire etc.
Special
QRienteering competitions would attract visitors (with money
to spend) the way the Mountain Mardi Gras and Goat
competitions do. There are endless possible money-making
variations.
8a. Skifield QRienteer competition. Similar to the Mountain Goat
competition,
but with teams of 2 and GPS transmitters for safety. Each
time a QR sign was scanned, the team's name and photo would
light up at that point on spectators’ screens
at the Keg, Rocks etc.
8b. Mountain QRienteer competition. Similar to the Mountain Goat
competition,
but with teams of 2 and GPS transmitters for safety. Each
time a QR sign was scanned, the team's name and photo would
light up at that point on spectators’ screens
at the Keg, Rocks etc. Both
summer hiking and winter snowgliding events could be
organised
8c. Extreme QRienteer competition. Similar to the above, but with
teams
of 3, and lasting for 24 hours non-stop as with the
army battle efficiency tests at Waiouru.
8d. Search and Rescue QRienteer competition. Regional teams of 4.
On
the the first day the GPS location would be approximate
within 50 metres, 100m the second day, then
200m. A battery in the mannequin would emit heat
for the team's searching drone.
Mid-summer and mid-winter to test endurance in extreme conditions.
Mid-summer and mid-winter to test endurance in extreme conditions.
8e. SAS QRienteer
competition. A
week for international teams of 5
to locate and take selfies at as many
widely scattered QR signs as
possible. These could be across rivers, in
wilderness areas, on
mountain summits, on
railway bridges, halfway down bluffs or
underwater.
8f.
Drone wars. Like
rugby, with large QR codes at each end of a field.
Rival quadcopters
or RC car teams must get photos of rival team’s
codes, while preventing their own QRs from being photographed.
Variations with multiple teams, water bombs, paintball guns
bombs.
8g.
Nighttime Search and Rescue QRienteer
competitions
with teams using Infra Red drone cameras.
Batteries in the mannequins would generate heat.
with teams using Infra Red drone cameras.
Batteries in the mannequins would generate heat.
The mannequins
could be sheltering (or trapped) in the forest,
or on/under snow.
or on/under snow.
8h.
Tactical SAS QRienteer
competition. A
combination of 6d and 6e.
And
video cameras on the Red Bull sponsor’s drones would
broadcast it all, generating more publicity and money
for the district! Whoop-de-do!
9. Remote huts/cottages/glamps/lodges
As well as guided walks nor-east and
sou-east from High Noon in fine warm weather,
comfortable-to-luxury overnight tent camps (glamps) could be
discretely sited, set up and serviced a couple of hundred metres
or so each side of the Giant and High Noon for elderly
adventurers, honeymooners, astronomy enthusiasts etc. The
chairlifts could also be used in the daytime for LOTR cosplayers.
The Ruapehu district is blessed with thousands of hectares of partly forested hill-country. I have stayed in various habitations in these beautiful and totally isolated places: caves, basic corrugated iron huts, comfortable mini-cottages accessed by hiking, and also a luxury lodge accessed by helicopter and serviced by farm-bike.
There is enough isolated rough
country for building and servicing dozens of these places, each
advertised with special features such as bush walks, clearings
with wild deer, a stream with blue ducks, soaring views, native
bats, glow worms, abundant bird life, unique native plants, or
internet access.
Some of the dwellings could be
entirely isolated and some linked by hiking and biking tracks. As
a network of hiking/biking tracks south of National Park/Waiouru
region is developed, so could the number of huts.
They could be designed, serviced and
advertised for a whole alphabet of artists, botanists, burnt-out
professionals, computer-linked office workers, deer stalkers,
executives needing a week away from the world in blissful peace
and luxurious comfort, families, goat hunters, honeymooners, IT
developers, LOTR enthusiasts, novelists, ornithologists,
QRienteers, survivalists and zoologists.
10. Historic lifestyle experiences
Visitors could be given an
immersion experience of daily life in the old ways with two nights
to two months in:-
With
Shacklock stove, rainwater tank, a wood-heated copper-and-wringer
wash-house, propped-up number-8 wire clothes line, outdoor
longdrop, and pioneer clothing and bedding. Soap-making,
hand-shearing, spinning and knitting a jersey, milking a cow,
killing and cutting up a sheep for meat, roasting in Shacklock
stove, using drained-off fat for soap-making, catching and
harnessing a horse to do plowing, harrowing, planting potatoes,
and riding on back to the 21st Century. The eastern end of
Costello's Mangatiti valley property, would be ideal for this as
would be similar settlements abandoned in the Great Depression.
10b. A bushman's tent camp, with sod fireplace, billy hooks, camp oven
bread and other activities of
this district's bushmen as described in chapter 5 of Merv
Addenbrooke's autobiography, Home From The Hill, (that I
edited for Merv in 1990). Click the picture.
10c. A pre-European Maori whare with clothing, footwear, cooking, eating
, toilet hugiene, washing,
entertaining, tool-making, medicine-making, clothes-making,
hunting and gardening.
Big Opportunity B.
LOTR Cosplay
Hobbiton at Matamata brings in $75 million annually
for the district with one artificial
Disneyland film setting in a cow paddock, while around
Ruapehu we have about 10 authentic LOTR sites, none
utilized for tourism.
11. Ruapehu’s LOTR Cosplay Industry
Ever
since its publication in the 1950s, young people worldwide
have been drawn to Tolkein's epic story of Frodro Baggins,
because it gives them hope, reflecting their own plight as
simple souls whose life and whole world is threatened by industrialization
wrought by greedy and ruthless men with
great power.
Frodo is called upon to band together with others and save his world, and retracing his steps (thanks to Saint Peter Jackson) here to our pristine World Park somehow gives them the courage to follow his example back in their home countries.
I've had a dozen or more young EU and US people on working holidays stay with with me here because "This is Tolkein's real Middle Earth," and so I set about making costumes for them.
Higher up the mountain, LOTR (and other cosplay) tourism would be a warm weather industry for the skifields' rental, dining and lift infrastructure, so workers in the ski/board industry could find employment here when the skifields are closed, whether or not each season is short or long.
Starting now.
11a. Make Costumes
I followed the instructions put on the web by enthusiasts to make about 10 of them very cheaply from op-shop bits, Placemakers' items and cheap AliExpress wigs, elf feet and rubber swords. I could help you get started making more of them, without the mistakes I made. I would recommend that the ones you make and sell be labelled "The Shire. Cool Ruapehu" and sold at a premium price. A dozen people could make 100 costumes by December.
Frodo is called upon to band together with others and save his world, and retracing his steps (thanks to Saint Peter Jackson) here to our pristine World Park somehow gives them the courage to follow his example back in their home countries.
I've had a dozen or more young EU and US people on working holidays stay with with me here because "This is Tolkein's real Middle Earth," and so I set about making costumes for them.
Higher up the mountain, LOTR (and other cosplay) tourism would be a warm weather industry for the skifields' rental, dining and lift infrastructure, so workers in the ski/board industry could find employment here when the skifields are closed, whether or not each season is short or long.
Starting now.
11a. Make Costumes
I followed the instructions put on the web by enthusiasts to make about 10 of them very cheaply from op-shop bits, Placemakers' items and cheap AliExpress wigs, elf feet and rubber swords. I could help you get started making more of them, without the mistakes I made. I would recommend that the ones you make and sell be labelled "The Shire. Cool Ruapehu" and sold at a premium price. A dozen people could make 100 costumes by December.
By December 2024
11b. Rent/Sell
Costumes
$10 an item rented (wig, cloak, sword, hairy feet etc). $100 to $1000 to buy a full Shire costume. Rent sell them from a back bedroom, then a small, cheap-rent shop in Ohakune . It could become the thing to do, to walk the Tongariro Crossing or across the summer snow by the High Noon or Gondola as a Hobbit or Aragon or Arwen or Gandalf. More costume photos.
$10 an item rented (wig, cloak, sword, hairy feet etc). $100 to $1000 to buy a full Shire costume. Rent sell them from a back bedroom, then a small, cheap-rent shop in Ohakune . It could become the thing to do, to walk the Tongariro Crossing or across the summer snow by the High Noon or Gondola as a Hobbit or Aragon or Arwen or Gandalf. More costume photos.
By December 2025
11c.
Re-enct
Scenes
together (or with paid local actors) at:
And also by December 2025
11d. Costume Banquets In the evening at one of the suitably remodeled high-altitude Whakapapa or Turoa restaurants, or at the already medieval Powderhorn ($100 -$200 each). Serve up LOTR-named meals (lots of ideas on the net) in localy-fired "The Shire" medieval crockery with locally brewed "The Shire" meads and ales. Have some events at the meal –magic tricks? -get attacked by Orcs and battle with rubber swords? - videos taken of the feast and battle. ($500)
By December 2026
11d. A costumed picnic then horse ride or gallop at Rangataua ($80 each) in costume ($80 each) re-enacting setting out from the Shire, and being chased by Dark Riders ($900), while being filmed by two or more video and drone operators. (another $1000)
By December 2027
11e. Ride Mesh eagles on a chairlift dressed as LOTR characters down the mountain, filmed by carefully positioned drones.($2000 each)
And also by December 2027
11e. The Lord-of-the-Rings Route. Hike from Ohakune (the Shire) to Mangaehuehu hut (Sign of the Dancing Pony) across the Rangipo Desert (Mordor) to Waihohonu (Elves home) and via Oturere to Mt Doom.($800 each) More video footage. If drones not allowed, then telephoto lenses.
By December 2028
11g. Fantasy festivals. These is a big thing in Europe and China, and big groups turn up in their costumes for re-enactments. Dozens/hundreds from overseas countries dressed as LOTR characters would turn up for a week of re-enacted battles etc here.
The district's income from this would be bigger than from the Mountain Mardi Gras, as the costumed visitors would pay for organization and transport, accommodation, food and alcohol (with real Elfin Honeymead!). The fans would spend a week (and $2000+ each) living their dream.
11h. Other Fantasies. Eventually, similar costume hire, outdoor activities, banquets and videoing could be done for fans of Game of Thrones, (up at MUAC and Turoa) Steampunk (at Horopito), Maori fantasy (at Raetihi) etc.
The Disneylandish Hobbiton at Matamata makes $75 million annually by doing about 1/10 of what I have described above. Why have Waimarino business operators been sitting on their hands and waiting for govt handouts?
If some cosplay activities are not allowed in the National Park, no worries: there are hundreds of hectares of native forest elsewhere, including right behind the Ohakune i-Site.
Whakapapa Gollum’s pool,
Meads Wall,
up the Ohakune Mountain Road,
up Turoa,
out on the Rangipo Desert etc. ($1500)
And video the reenactments with video and drones. ($500).
Meads Wall,
up the Ohakune Mountain Road,
up Turoa,
out on the Rangipo Desert etc. ($1500)
And video the reenactments with video and drones. ($500).
And also by December 2025
11d. Costume Banquets In the evening at one of the suitably remodeled high-altitude Whakapapa or Turoa restaurants, or at the already medieval Powderhorn ($100 -$200 each). Serve up LOTR-named meals (lots of ideas on the net) in localy-fired "The Shire" medieval crockery with locally brewed "The Shire" meads and ales. Have some events at the meal –magic tricks? -get attacked by Orcs and battle with rubber swords? - videos taken of the feast and battle. ($500)
By December 2026
11d. A costumed picnic then horse ride or gallop at Rangataua ($80 each) in costume ($80 each) re-enacting setting out from the Shire, and being chased by Dark Riders ($900), while being filmed by two or more video and drone operators. (another $1000)
By December 2027
11e. Ride Mesh eagles on a chairlift dressed as LOTR characters down the mountain, filmed by carefully positioned drones.($2000 each)
And also by December 2027
11e. The Lord-of-the-Rings Route. Hike from Ohakune (the Shire) to Mangaehuehu hut (Sign of the Dancing Pony) across the Rangipo Desert (Mordor) to Waihohonu (Elves home) and via Oturere to Mt Doom.($800 each) More video footage. If drones not allowed, then telephoto lenses.
By December 2028
11g. Fantasy festivals. These is a big thing in Europe and China, and big groups turn up in their costumes for re-enactments. Dozens/hundreds from overseas countries dressed as LOTR characters would turn up for a week of re-enacted battles etc here.
The district's income from this would be bigger than from the Mountain Mardi Gras, as the costumed visitors would pay for organization and transport, accommodation, food and alcohol (with real Elfin Honeymead!). The fans would spend a week (and $2000+ each) living their dream.
11h. Other Fantasies. Eventually, similar costume hire, outdoor activities, banquets and videoing could be done for fans of Game of Thrones, (up at MUAC and Turoa) Steampunk (at Horopito), Maori fantasy (at Raetihi) etc.
The Disneylandish Hobbiton at Matamata makes $75 million annually by doing about 1/10 of what I have described above. Why have Waimarino business operators been sitting on their hands and waiting for govt handouts?
If some cosplay activities are not allowed in the National Park, no worries: there are hundreds of hectares of native forest elsewhere, including right behind the Ohakune i-Site.
12. Team-building, conferences, weddings etc
Most of the above
biking/hiking/cosplay facilities could also be used for bonding
and leadership-development exercises for businesses, high schools,
and rehabilitation programs, and for celebrating themed weddings,
wedding and birthday anniversaries etc. E.g. a LOTR wedding with
the bride and groom as Arwen and Aragon, riding on an eagle from
The Giant and the wedding party as Elves, Warriors etc in the
appropriately decorated Turoa dining hall ($30,000)
Other Employment possibilities
13. Permaforestry
OPPORTUNITY
C. Our denuded clay hills and the roads below them need
protection from future Cyclone Gabrielle-type deluges and
consequent massive erosion and road destruction.
Permaforestry would collect carbon credits, be open enough to enable grazing to continue, and would include slower-growing species with valuable timber, species apart from manuka with flowers that produced honey flavoured for Ruapehu’s mead industry, plus interesting deciduous trees that would make the forests a tourist attraction, with more paths for hikers and bikers.
Perma-foresters would help grow seedings, then plant, protect and prune a variety of trees, and maintain pathways.
Permaforestry would collect carbon credits, be open enough to enable grazing to continue, and would include slower-growing species with valuable timber, species apart from manuka with flowers that produced honey flavoured for Ruapehu’s mead industry, plus interesting deciduous trees that would make the forests a tourist attraction, with more paths for hikers and bikers.
Perma-foresters would help grow seedings, then plant, protect and prune a variety of trees, and maintain pathways.
14. Wind-generated hydrogen
for H2-diesel engines.
OPPORTUNITY
D. Wind-turbine electricity-generation fields have been proposed
on ridges east of Waiouru and south of Raetihi, but building
power lines for very high voltage electricity from remote
turbines to the national grid is very, very expensive,
($1 million/km) and power is not always needed when the wind is
blowing.
OPPORTUNITY E. Diesel-powered vehicles are essential here for skifield grooming, cultivating and harvesting vegetables and timber, for transporting vegetables, animals and timber, for generating emergency electricity, for maintaining roads, and for buses. But fossil diesel must be expensively imported, and its CO2 harms our climate. Throwing away diesel engines and replacing them with electric motors and lithium batteries is not practical, nor is it financially feasible.
OPPORTUNITY E. Diesel-powered vehicles are essential here for skifield grooming, cultivating and harvesting vegetables and timber, for transporting vegetables, animals and timber, for generating emergency electricity, for maintaining roads, and for buses. But fossil diesel must be expensively imported, and its CO2 harms our climate. Throwing away diesel engines and replacing them with electric motors and lithium batteries is not practical, nor is it financially feasible.
Most of the diesel engines already
in the Ruapehu district can be converted to burn 9/10ths hydrogen.
A mixture of air and hydrogen is drawn into a cylinder, heated by
compressing it, then ignited by injecting 1/10th the usual
quantity of fossil fuel. Details.
Wind turbines can convert the energy in our winds to electrical electricity that can be run through water (H20) to transfer that energy to hydrogen (H2). The hydrogen energy can be piped to refueling stations much more cheaply than high voltage electric energy. And unlike electric energy, it can be cheaply stored until needed.
As well as supplying local vehicles, the thousand or so H2-fuelled diesel-engined SUVs, trucks and locomotives that pass through the district each day could be refueled.
This industry could start off small as specialist engineers, tradies and managers gain experience. It could then employ increasing numbers of workers and bring large amounts of money into the area.
Wind turbines can convert the energy in our winds to electrical electricity that can be run through water (H20) to transfer that energy to hydrogen (H2). The hydrogen energy can be piped to refueling stations much more cheaply than high voltage electric energy. And unlike electric energy, it can be cheaply stored until needed.
As well as supplying local vehicles, the thousand or so H2-fuelled diesel-engined SUVs, trucks and locomotives that pass through the district each day could be refueled.
This industry could start off small as specialist engineers, tradies and managers gain experience. It could then employ increasing numbers of workers and bring large amounts of money into the area.
14. An Internet Technology centre
here.
OPPORTUNITY
F. There is a very thick fibre optical cable running
alongside the NIMT railway line. And people developing
electronic technology like to get away from cities and out in
the open air to clear their minds.
A PROBLEM
"We
don't want circuses on our skifield."
I have found that some of the district's older voters, and the old leaders they elect, are emotionally wedded/welded to their sheep-skis-and-veges status quo, and are incapable of imagining, organizing, fund-raising and instituting radical new income streams that would be lifelines for their children's generation.
I foresee very few of the above suggestions being implemented, except some more bike trails, and by 2034 hundreds of mill, skifield, shop and school personnel will have moved away from the district, dozens of empty houses and shops will been put up for sale at rock-bottom prices,with the cheap houses being bought by retired couples who like e-biking and spending as little money as possible.
I have found that some of the district's older voters, and the old leaders they elect, are emotionally wedded/welded to their sheep-skis-and-veges status quo, and are incapable of imagining, organizing, fund-raising and instituting radical new income streams that would be lifelines for their children's generation.
I foresee very few of the above suggestions being implemented, except some more bike trails, and by 2034 hundreds of mill, skifield, shop and school personnel will have moved away from the district, dozens of empty houses and shops will been put up for sale at rock-bottom prices,with the cheap houses being bought by retired couples who like e-biking and spending as little money as possible.
John Archer
4 / 9 /
2024