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<\/p>\nAround 140,000 registrations have been lodged for 100,000 vouchers for summer activities to “reactivate” Auckland after last year’s 107-day lockdown but registrations are still coming in.<\/p>\n
That means many people may miss out on this round, winning some of the 90 deals to have a good time after their sacrifice from last August.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the scheme launched last month by the Government and Auckland Council said those high application numbers were received for Explore T\u0101maki Makaurau vouchers.<\/p>\n
A $37.5 million reactivation package includes $12m in vouchers to attractions, discounts to Auckland Council facilities, funding for events and food support.<\/p>\n
The voucher system announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on December 1 is being run by the economic and cultural agency Auckland Unlimited which gave an update today.<\/p>\n
“Since registrations opened on December 15, as of Monday, January 10, there have been 140,000 registrations,” the spokesperson said today.<\/p>\n
Registrations are still open so thousands more could be lodged, meaning even more miss out.<\/p>\n
But Mayor Phil Goff was upbeat.<\/p>\n
“These vouchers recognise the long months of lockdown in 2021 when Aucklanders made significant sacrifices to protect the rest of New Zealand from Covid-19,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I hope families and people throughout the region will enjoy this opportunity to experience some of the world-class attractions and destinations that make Auckland a great place to live. By encouraging people to move around the city and visit new places, the vouchers will also provide a boost for businesses such as restaurants and cafes.”<\/p>\n
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The first of four draws starts this Saturday.<\/p>\n
Winners will get emails, sent to the same email address as they used to register. That will tell them which attractions they can choose to use their vouchers to visit.<\/p>\n
“Vouchers can be used to cover or contribute towards the cost of enjoying experiences and activities across Auckland region, with eligible experiences listed on a special website,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Tourism attractions, tours, commercial pools, water-based attractions, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, cultural tourism like exhibitions and performances, escape rooms, trampoline parks, mini putt, museums and art galleries are all being offered.<\/p>\n
Aucklanders have until February 25 to register for further draws on February 1, February 15 andMarch 1.<\/p>\n
People have been able to register from December 15 and now Auckland Unlimited will make the first allocation of the vouchers through an online platform.<\/p>\n
The vouchers have a 14-day expiry after they’ve been sent to winners but must be used before April 30.<\/p>\n
The programme website’s list of attractions offers tickets to the Sculptureum at Matakana, Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o T\u0101maki for the Mary Quant show and the All Blacks Experience.<\/p>\n
Some others listed include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 A Kawau Island supercruise from $44, saving $44;
\u2022 A Waiheke wine tour day from $129, saving $36;
\u2022 Skydiving for $255, saving up to $70;
\u2022 Butterfly Creek all-areas pass from $17.40, saving $11.60;
\u2022 Paradice Ice Skating in Avondale from $9, saving $9;
\u2022 AJ Hackett Bungy from Auckland Bridge for $155, saving $50;
\u2022 Waiheke e-bike rental for $50, saving $35;
\u2022 Parakai Springs Hot Pools entry for $22, saving $5.60;
\u2022 Snowplanet four-hour pass for $50, saving $50.<\/p>\n
Other attractions would also be added and people are being encouraged to check the spam folder of their email accounts in case responses go there.<\/p>\n
Many other attractions are listed but these give an idea of the range of options and prices.<\/p>\n
Not everyone was delighted with the scheme at the time it was launched.<\/p>\n
The Herald reported last month how restaurants, bars and businesses in the hospitality industry were not included in the scheme.<\/p>\n
The Restaurant Association said its members were gobsmacked at being left out of the voucher scheme.<\/p>\n
“We are deeply disappointed that hospitality has been forgotten in this package,” chief executive Marisa Bidois told the Herald.<\/p>\n
“The industry is gutted … there’s no other word for it.<\/p>\n
“We are one of the hardest-hit industries. The Government is fully aware of that. Yet time and time again we get left out … there is a lot of disappointment in our sector.”<\/p>\n